10-Q 1 allstatelife-93015x10q.htm 10-Q 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
The registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H (1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format.
 
[X]          QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015
 
OR
 
[  ]           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from                  to                 
 
Commission file number 0-31248
 
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
Illinois
 
36-2554642
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
 
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 
 
3075 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)
 
(847) 402-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Yes   X             No ___
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
Yes   X             No ___
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”  “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ____
 
Accelerated filer                            
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer    X    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company          
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ___           No   X  
 
As of November 5, 2015, the registrant had 23,800 common shares, $227 par value, outstanding, all of which are held by Allstate Insurance Company.






ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
September 30, 2015
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PAGE
 
 
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Three-Month and Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2015 (unaudited) and December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity for the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
 
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
Highlights
 
Operations
 
Investments
 
Capital Resources and Liquidity
 
Forward Looking Statements
 
 
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
 
 
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
 
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
 
 
Item 6.
Exhibits



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
ITEM 1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
Revenues
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Premiums
$
150

 
$
142

 
$
448

 
$
441

Contract charges
180

 
192

 
557

 
652

Net investment income
473

 
461

 
1,417

 
1,612

Realized capital gains and losses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses
(73
)
 
(19
)
 
(95
)
 
(41
)
OTTI losses reclassified to (from) other comprehensive income
6

 

 
9

 
(1
)
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings
(67
)
 
(19
)
 
(86
)
 
(42
)
Sales and other realized capital gains and losses
256

 
47

 
445

 
60

Total realized capital gains and losses
189

 
28

 
359

 
18

 
992

 
823

 
2,781

 
2,723

Costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Contract benefits
353

 
356

 
1,057

 
1,101

Interest credited to contractholder funds
181

 
191

 
546

 
696

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
38

 
36

 
116

 
124

Operating costs and expenses
56

 
75

 
211

 
232

Restructuring and related charges

 
(1
)
 
2

 
2

Interest expense
4

 
4

 
12

 
12

 
632

 
661

 
1,944

 
2,167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) on disposition of operations
2

 
(27
)
 
2

 
(71
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations before income tax expense
362

 
135

 
839

 
485

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
123

 
51

 
297

 
142

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
239

 
84

 
542

 
343

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, after-tax
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses
(302
)
 
24

 
(697
)
 
345

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments
3

 

 
(4
)
 
1

Other comprehensive (loss) income, after-tax
(299
)
 
24

 
(701
)
 
346

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive (loss) income
$
(60
)
 
$
108

 
$
(159
)
 
$
689

 















See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

1


ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
($ in millions, except par value data) 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31,
2014
Assets
(unaudited)
 
 

Investments
 

 
 

Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $23,975 and $25,822)
$
25,173

 
$
28,117

Mortgage loans
3,827

 
3,686

Equity securities, at fair value (cost $1,423 and $927)
1,370

 
970

Limited partnership interests
2,261

 
2,024

Short-term, at fair value (amortized cost $937 and $857)
937

 
857

Policy loans
575

 
616

Other
1,302

 
1,196

Total investments
35,445

 
37,466

Cash
227

 
146

Deferred policy acquisition costs
1,292

 
1,271

Reinsurance recoverables
2,878

 
2,586

Accrued investment income
287

 
333

Other assets
489

 
537

Separate Accounts
3,677

 
4,396

Total assets
$
44,295

 
$
46,735

Liabilities
 

 
 

Contractholder funds
$
20,816

 
$
21,816

Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits
11,390

 
11,566

Unearned premiums
5

 
6

Payable to affiliates, net
52

 
96

Other liabilities and accrued expenses
939

 
826

Deferred income taxes
1,070

 
1,407

Notes due to related parties
275

 
275

Separate Accounts
3,677

 
4,396

Total liabilities
38,224

 
40,388

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 7)


 


Shareholder’s equity
 

 
 

Redeemable preferred stock - series A, $100 par value, 1,500,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

Redeemable preferred stock - series B, $100 par value, 1,500,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

Common stock, $227 par value, 23,800 shares authorized and outstanding
5

 
5

Additional capital paid-in
1,990

 
1,990

Retained income
3,398

 
2,973

Accumulated other comprehensive income:
 

 
 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses:
 

 
 

Unrealized net capital gains and losses on fixed income securities with OTTI
42

 
47

Other unrealized net capital gains and losses
703

 
1,468

Unrealized adjustment to DAC, DSI and insurance reserves
(60
)
 
(133
)
Total unrealized net capital gains and losses
685

 
1,382

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments
(7
)
 
(3
)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income
678

 
1,379

Total shareholder’s equity
6,071

 
6,347

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity
$
44,295

 
$
46,735

 







See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2


ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY 
($ in millions)
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(unaudited)
Common stock
$
5

 
$
5

 
 
 
 
Additional capital paid-in
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
1,990

 
2,690

Return of capital

 
(700
)
 
1,990

 
1,990

 
 
 
 
Retained income
 

 
 

Balance, beginning of period
2,973

 
2,447

Net income
542

 
343

Dividends
(103
)
 

Loss on reinsurance with an affiliate
(12
)
 

Loss on sale of subsidiary to an affiliate
(2
)
 

Balance, end of period
3,398

 
2,790

 
 
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
 

 
 

Balance, beginning of period
1,379

 
928

Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses
(697
)
 
345

Change in unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments
(4
)
 
1

Balance, end of period
678

 
1,274

 
 
 
 
Total shareholder’s equity
$
6,071

 
$
6,059

 



































See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
($ in millions)
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities
(unaudited)
Net income
$
542

 
$
343

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Amortization and other non-cash items
(58
)
 
(63
)
Realized capital gains and losses
(359
)
 
(18
)
(Gain) loss on disposition of operations
(2
)
 
71

Interest credited to contractholder funds
546

 
696

Changes in:
 

 
 

Policy benefits and other insurance reserves
(422
)
 
(452
)
Unearned premiums

 
(1
)
Deferred policy acquisition costs
20

 
4

Reinsurance recoverables, net
17

 
(6
)
Income taxes
128

 
61

Other operating assets and liabilities
(31
)
 
(179
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
381

 
456

Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from sales
 

 
 

Fixed income securities
6,758

 
2,486

Equity securities
511

 
326

Limited partnership interests
349

 
358

Mortgage loans
6

 
9

Other investments
18

 
25

Investment collections
 

 
 

Fixed income securities
1,448

 
1,485

Mortgage loans
257

 
795

Other investments
59

 
37

Investment purchases
 

 
 

Fixed income securities
(6,308
)
 
(2,026
)
Equity securities
(1,045
)
 
(846
)
Limited partnership interests
(481
)
 
(482
)
Mortgage loans
(475
)
 
(194
)
Other investments
(204
)
 
(195
)
Change in short-term investments, net
(88
)
 
140

Change in policy loans and other investments, net
(17
)
 
54

Disposition of operations
10

 
345

Net cash provided by investing activities
798

 
2,317

Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Contractholder fund deposits
674

 
832

Contractholder fund withdrawals
(1,755
)
 
(2,800
)
Dividends paid
(17
)
 

Return of capital

 
(700
)
Repayment of notes due to related parties

 
(7
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(1,098
)
 
(2,675
)
Net increase in cash
81

 
98

Cash at beginning of period
146

 
93

Cash at end of period
$
227

 
$
191

 






See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4



ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.  General
Basis of presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”).  ALIC is wholly owned by Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”), which is wholly owned by Allstate Insurance Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation (the “Corporation”).
The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2015 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are unaudited.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods.  These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Sale of subsidiary
On January 1, 2015, ALIC sold its subsidiary Allstate Assurance Company (“AAC”) to its unconsolidated affiliate Allstate Financial Insurance Holdings Corporation. ALIC received $11 million in cash. The $2 million loss on sale was recorded as a decrease to retained income since the sale was between affiliates under common control.
Reinsurance
Effective April 1, 2015, ALIC entered into a coinsurance reinsurance agreement with AAC to cede certain interest-sensitive life insurance policies to AAC. In connection with the agreement, the Company recorded reinsurance recoverables of $476 million and paid $494 million in investments. The $12 million loss on the transaction was recorded as a decrease to retained income since the transaction was between affiliates under common control.
Dividends
In September 2015, the Company paid dividends of $103 million to AIC in the form of cash and investments.
Premiums and contract charges
The following table summarizes premiums and contract charges by product.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Premiums
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Traditional life insurance
$
129

 
$
120

 
$
384

 
$
365

Immediate annuities with life contingencies

 

 

 
5

Accident and health insurance
21

 
22

 
64

 
71

Total premiums
150

 
142

 
448

 
441

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contract charges
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest-sensitive life insurance
176

 
188

 
547

 
638

Fixed annuities
4

 
4

 
10

 
14

Total contract charges
180

 
192

 
557

 
652

Total premiums and contract charges
$
330

 
$
334

 
$
1,005

 
$
1,093







5



Adopted accounting standard
Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects
In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which allows entities that invest in certain qualified affordable housing projects through limited liability entities the option to account for these investments using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met.  Under the proportional amortization method, the entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense or benefit.  Adoption of the new guidance in the first quarter of 2015 resulted in a one-time $17 million increase in income tax expense.
Pending accounting standard
Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis
In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance affecting the consolidation evaluation for limited partnerships and similar entities, fees paid to a decision maker or service provider, and variable interests in a variable interest entity held by related parties of the reporting enterprise. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of adoption which is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position. 
2.  Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Non-cash investing activities include $63 million and $89 million related to modifications of certain mortgage loans, fixed income securities and other investments, as well as mergers completed with equity securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and a $45 million obligation to fund a limited partnership investment for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
Liabilities for collateral received in conjunction with the Company’s securities lending program and over-the-counter (“OTC”) and cleared derivatives are reported in other liabilities and accrued expenses or other investments.  The accompanying cash flows are included in cash flows from operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows along with the activities resulting from management of the proceeds, which are as follows:
($ in millions)
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Net change in proceeds managed
 

 
 

Net change in short-term investments
$
6

 
$
(151
)
Operating cash flow provided (used)
6

 
(151
)
Net change in cash
1

 

     Net change in proceeds managed
$
7

 
$
(151
)
 
 
 
 
Net change in liabilities
 

 
 

Liabilities for collateral, beginning of period
$
(510
)
 
$
(328
)
Liabilities for collateral, end of period
(503
)
 
(479
)
Operating cash flow (used) provided
$
(7
)
 
$
151













6



3.  Investments
Fair values
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value for fixed income securities are as follows:
($ in millions)
Amortized
 
Gross unrealized
 
Fair
 
cost
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
value
September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agencies
$
508

 
$
68

 
$

 
$
576

Municipal
2,212

 
323

 
(9
)
 
2,526

Corporate
18,198

 
1,045

 
(340
)
 
18,903

Foreign government
387

 
44

 
(1
)
 
430

Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)
1,737

 
9

 
(25
)
 
1,721

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)
439

 
54

 
(4
)
 
489

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)
481

 
34

 
(3
)
 
512

Redeemable preferred stock
13

 
3

 

 
16

Total fixed income securities
$
23,975

 
$
1,580

 
$
(382
)
 
$
25,173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agencies
$
668

 
$
102

 
$

 
$
770

Municipal
3,156

 
520

 
(14
)
 
3,662

Corporate
19,465

 
1,670

 
(150
)
 
20,985

Foreign government
654

 
81

 

 
735

ABS
773

 
13

 
(21
)
 
765

RMBS
554

 
55

 
(4
)
 
605

CMBS
538

 
43

 
(2
)
 
579

Redeemable preferred stock
14

 
2

 

 
16

Total fixed income securities
$
25,822

 
$
2,486

 
$
(191
)
 
$
28,117

Scheduled maturities
The scheduled maturities for fixed income securities are as follows as of September 30, 2015:
($ in millions)
Amortized
cost
 
Fair
value
Due in one year or less
$
1,054

 
$
1,064

Due after one year through five years
6,438

 
6,794

Due after five years through ten years
8,882

 
9,108

Due after ten years
4,944

 
5,485

 
21,318

 
22,451

ABS, RMBS and CMBS
2,657

 
2,722

Total
$
23,975

 
$
25,173

Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of calls and make-whole payments by the issuers.  ABS, RMBS and CMBS are shown separately because of the potential for prepayment of principal prior to contractual maturity dates.











7



Net investment income
Net investment income is as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Fixed income securities
$
300

 
$
349

 
$
960

 
$
1,179

Mortgage loans
46

 
48

 
147

 
188

Equity securities
6

 
7

 
19

 
17

Limited partnership interests
105

 
51

 
250

 
209

Short-term investments
1

 

 
2

 
1

Policy loans
9

 
10

 
26

 
30

Other
19

 
15

 
55

 
43

Investment income, before expense
486

 
480

 
1,459

 
1,667

Investment expense
(13
)
 
(19
)
 
(42
)
 
(55
)
Net investment income
$
473

 
$
461

 
$
1,417

 
$
1,612

Realized capital gains and losses
Realized capital gains and losses by asset type are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Fixed income securities
$
256

 
$
(1
)
 
$
370

 
$
(1
)
Mortgage loans
1

 
2

 
2

 
3

Equity securities
(58
)
 
(5
)
 
(10
)
 
11

Limited partnership interests
(20
)
 
28

 
(18
)
 
(5
)
Derivatives
15

 
4

 
21

 
7

Other
(5
)
 

 
(6
)
 
3

Realized capital gains and losses
$
189

 
$
28

 
$
359

 
$
18

Realized capital gains and losses by transaction type are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Impairment write-downs
$
(17
)
 
$
2

 
$
(29
)
 
$
(2
)
Change in intent write-downs
(50
)
 
(21
)
 
(57
)
 
(40
)
Net other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings
(67
)
 
(19
)
 
(86
)
 
(42
)
Sales and other
241

 
43

 
427

 
51

Valuation and settlements of derivative instruments
15

 
4

 
18

 
9

Realized capital gains and losses
$
189

 
$
28

 
$
359

 
$
18

Gross gains of $308 million and $23 million and gross losses of $46 million and $5 million were realized on sales of fixed income and equity securities during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  Gross gains of $524 million and $76 million and gross losses of $84 million and $34 million were realized on sales of fixed income and equity securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.













8



Other-than-temporary impairment losses by asset type are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30, 2015
 
Three months ended September 30, 2014
 
Gross
 
Included
in OCI
 
Net
 
Gross
 
Included
in OCI
 
Net
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
$
(4
)
 
$

 
$
(4
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$

 
$
(3
)
ABS
(8
)
 
6

 
(2
)
 

 

 

CMBS
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 

 

 

Total fixed income securities
(13
)
 
6

 
(7
)
 
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
Mortgage loans

 

 

 
2

 

 
2

Equity securities
(58
)
 

 
(58
)
 
(21
)
 

 
(21
)
Limited partnership interests

 

 

 
3

 

 
3

Other
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
 

 

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses
$
(73
)
 
$
6

 
$
(67
)
 
$
(19
)
 
$

 
$
(19
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
Gross
 
Included
in OCI
 
Net
 
Gross
 
Included
in OCI
 
Net
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
(1
)
Corporate
(11
)
 
3

 
(8
)
 
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
ABS
(10
)
 
6

 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
RMBS

 

 

 
3

 
(1
)
 
2

CMBS
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 

 

 

Total fixed income securities
(22
)
 
9

 
(13
)
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
Mortgage loans

 

 

 
6

 

 
6

Equity securities
(68
)
 

 
(68
)
 
(29
)
 

 
(29
)
Limited partnership interests
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
 
(16
)
 

 
(16
)
Other
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
 

 

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses
$
(95
)
 
$
9

 
$
(86
)
 
$
(41
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(42
)
The total amount of other-than-temporary impairment losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income at the time of impairment for fixed income securities, which were not included in earnings, are presented in the following table.  The amounts exclude $134 million and $138 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, of net unrealized gains related to changes in valuation of the fixed income securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
 
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Municipal
$
(5
)
 
$
(5
)
ABS
(8
)
 
(1
)
RMBS
(50
)
 
(55
)
CMBS
(6
)
 
(5
)
Total
$
(69
)
 
$
(66
)









9



Rollforwards of the cumulative credit losses recognized in earnings for fixed income securities held as of the end of the period are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning balance
$
(206
)
 
$
(229
)
 
$
(209
)
 
$
(299
)
Additional credit loss for securities previously other-than-temporarily impaired
(3
)
 

 
(5
)
 
2

Additional credit loss for securities not previously other-than-temporarily impaired
(4
)
 
(3
)
 
(8
)
 
(4
)
Reduction in credit loss for securities disposed or collected
13

 
9

 
20

 
19

Reduction in credit loss for securities the Company has made the decision to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell

 

 

 

Change in credit loss due to accretion of increase in cash flows

 
1

 
2

 
1

Reduction in credit loss for securities sold in Lincoln Benefit Life Company (“LBL”) disposition

 

 

 
59

Ending balance
$
(200
)
 
$
(222
)
 
$
(200
)
 
$
(222
)
The Company uses its best estimate of future cash flows expected to be collected from the fixed income security, discounted at the security’s original or current effective rate, as appropriate, to calculate a recovery value and determine whether a credit loss exists.  The determination of cash flow estimates is inherently subjective and methodologies may vary depending on facts and circumstances specific to the security.  All reasonably available information relevant to the collectability of the security, including past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable assumptions and forecasts, are considered when developing the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected.  That information generally includes, but is not limited to, the remaining payment terms of the security, prepayment speeds, foreign exchange rates, the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer, expected defaults, expected recoveries, the value of underlying collateral, vintage, geographic concentration, available reserves or escrows, current subordination levels, third party guarantees and other credit enhancements.  Other information, such as industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings, financial condition of the bond insurer for insured fixed income securities, and other market data relevant to the realizability of contractual cash flows, may also be considered.  The estimated fair value of collateral will be used to estimate recovery value if the Company determines that the security is dependent on the liquidation of collateral for ultimate settlement.  If the estimated recovery value is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss exists and an other-than-temporary impairment for the difference between the estimated recovery value and amortized cost is recorded in earnings.  The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in accumulated other comprehensive income.  If the Company determines that the fixed income security does not have sufficient cash flow or other information to estimate a recovery value for the security, the Company may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit related and the loss is recorded in earnings.
















10



Unrealized net capital gains and losses
Unrealized net capital gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:
($ in millions)
Fair value
 
Gross unrealized
 
Unrealized net gains (losses)
September 30, 2015
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Fixed income securities
$
25,173

 
$
1,580

 
$
(382
)
 
$
1,198

Equity securities
1,370

 
21

 
(74
)
 
(53
)
Short-term investments
937

 

 

 

Derivative instruments (1)
11

 
11

 

 
11

Equity method (“EMA”) limited partnerships (2)
 

 
 

 
 

 
(2
)
Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax
 

 
 

 
 

 
1,154

Amounts recognized for:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Insurance reserves (3)
 

 
 

 
 

 

DAC and DSI (4)
 

 
 

 
 

 
(92
)
Amounts recognized
 

 
 

 
 

 
(92
)
Deferred income taxes
 

 
 

 
 

 
(377
)
Unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
685

_______________
 
(1) 
Included in the fair value of derivative instruments are $4 million classified as assets and $(7) million classified as liabilities.
(2) 
Unrealized net capital gains and losses for limited partnership interests represent the Company’s share of EMA limited partnerships’ other comprehensive income. Fair value and gross unrealized gains and losses are not applicable.
(3) 
The insurance reserves adjustment represents the amount by which the reserve balance would increase if the net unrealized gains in the applicable product portfolios were realized and reinvested at current lower interest rates, resulting in a premium deficiency. Although the Company evaluates premium deficiencies on the combined performance of life insurance and immediate annuities with life contingencies, the adjustment primarily relates to structured settlement annuities with life contingencies, in addition to annuity buy-outs and certain payout annuities with life contingencies.
(4) 
The DAC and DSI adjustment balance represents the amount by which the amortization of DAC and DSI would increase or decrease if the unrealized gains or losses in the respective product portfolios were realized.
($ in millions)
Fair value
 
Gross unrealized
 
Unrealized net gains (losses)
December 31, 2014
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Fixed income securities
$
28,117

 
$
2,486

 
$
(191
)
 
$
2,295

Equity securities
970

 
57

 
(14
)
 
43

Short-term investments
857

 

 

 

Derivative instruments (1)
2

 
3

 
(1
)
 
2

EMA limited partnerships
 

 
 

 
 

 
(2
)
Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax
 

 
 

 
 

 
2,338

Amounts recognized for:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Insurance reserves
 

 
 

 
 

 
(28
)
DAC and DSI
 

 
 

 
 

 
(176
)
Amounts recognized
 

 
 

 
 

 
(204
)
Deferred income taxes
 

 
 

 
 

 
(752
)
Unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
1,382

_______________
 
(1) 
Included in the fair value of derivative instruments are $3 million classified as assets and $1 million classified as liabilities.










11



Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses
The change in unrealized net capital gains and losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is as follows:
($ in millions)
 

Fixed income securities
$
(1,097
)
Equity securities
(96
)
Derivative instruments
9

Total
(1,184
)
Amounts recognized for:
 

Insurance reserves
28

DAC and DSI
84

Amounts recognized
112

Deferred income taxes
375

Decrease in unrealized net capital gains and losses, after-tax
$
(697
)
Portfolio monitoring
The Company has a comprehensive portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income and equity security whose carrying value may be other-than-temporarily impaired.
For each fixed income security in an unrealized loss position, the Company assesses whether management with the appropriate authority has made the decision to sell or whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity, contractual or regulatory purposes.  If a security meets either of these criteria, the security’s decline in fair value is considered other than temporary and is recorded in earnings.
If the Company has not made the decision to sell the fixed income security and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the fixed income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the Company evaluates whether it expects to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.  The Company calculates the estimated recovery value by discounting the best estimate of future cash flows at the security’s original or current effective rate, as appropriate, and compares this to the amortized cost of the security.  If the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the fixed income security, the credit loss component of the impairment is recorded in earnings, with the remaining amount of the unrealized loss related to other factors recognized in other comprehensive income.
For equity securities, the Company considers various factors, including whether it has the intent and ability to hold the equity security for a period of time sufficient to recover its cost basis.  Where the Company lacks the intent and ability to hold to recovery, or believes the recovery period is extended, the equity security’s decline in fair value is considered other than temporary and is recorded in earnings.
For fixed income and equity securities managed by third parties, either the Company has contractually retained its decision making authority as it pertains to selling securities that are in an unrealized loss position or it recognizes any unrealized loss at the end of the period through a charge to earnings.
The Company’s portfolio monitoring process includes a quarterly review of all securities to identify instances where the fair value of a security compared to its amortized cost (for fixed income securities) or cost (for equity securities) is below established thresholds.  The process also includes the monitoring of other impairment indicators such as ratings, ratings downgrades and payment defaults.  The securities identified, in addition to other securities for which the Company may have a concern, are evaluated for potential other-than-temporary impairment using all reasonably available information relevant to the collectability or recovery of the security.  Inherent in the Company’s evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment for these fixed income and equity securities are assumptions and estimates about the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer.  Some of the factors that may be considered in evaluating whether a decline in fair value is other than temporary are: 1) the financial condition, near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer, including relevant industry specific market conditions and trends, geographic location and implications of rating agency actions and offering prices; 2) the specific reasons that a security is in an unrealized loss position, including overall market conditions which could affect liquidity; and 3) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost or cost.






12



The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses and fair value of fixed income and equity securities by the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.
 
($ in millions)
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or more
 
Total
unrealized
losses
 
 
Number
of issues
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Number
of issues
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Fixed income securities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
U.S. government and agencies
1

 
$
5

 
$

 

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
Municipal
21

 
56

 
(1
)
 
5

 
24

 
(8
)
 
(9
)
 
Corporate
686

 
3,948

 
(244
)
 
60

 
551

 
(96
)
 
(340
)
 
Foreign government
2

 
32

 
(1
)
 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
ABS
37

 
387

 
(8
)
 
19

 
186

 
(17
)
 
(25
)
 
RMBS
31

 
2

 

 
40

 
57

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
CMBS
6

 
32

 

 
2

 
4

 
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
Total fixed income securities
784

 
4,462

 
(254
)
 
126

 
822

 
(128
)
 
(382
)
 
Equity securities
419

 
742

 
(74
)
 

 

 

 
(74
)
 
Total fixed income and equity securities
1,203

 
$
5,204

 
$
(328
)
 
126

 
$
822

 
$
(128
)
 
$
(456
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade fixed income securities
422

 
$
2,931

 
$
(114
)
 
77

 
$
550

 
$
(73
)
 
$
(187
)
 
Below investment grade fixed income securities
362

 
1,531

 
(140
)
 
49

 
272

 
(55
)
 
(195
)
 
Total fixed income securities
784

 
$
4,462

 
$
(254
)
 
126

 
$
822

 
$
(128
)
 
$
(382
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Fixed income securities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
U.S. government and agencies
1

 
$
1

 
$

 

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
Municipal
17

 
90

 
(1
)
 
10

 
47

 
(13
)
 
(14
)
 
Corporate
281

 
1,780

 
(69
)
 
91

 
875

 
(81
)
 
(150
)
 
Foreign government

 

 

 
1

 
15

 

 

 
ABS
19

 
168

 
(2
)
 
23

 
217

 
(19
)
 
(21
)
 
RMBS
19

 
3

 

 
45

 
73

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
CMBS
8

 
33

 

 
3

 
32

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
Total fixed income securities
345

 
2,075

 
(72
)
 
173

 
1,259

 
(119
)
 
(191
)
 
Equity securities
294

 
327

 
(13
)
 
1

 
6

 
(1
)
 
(14
)
 
Total fixed income and equity securities
639

 
$
2,402

 
$
(85
)
 
174

 
$
1,265

 
$
(120
)
 
$
(205
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade fixed income securities
167

 
$
1,275

 
$
(28
)
 
127

 
$
989

 
$
(79
)
 
$
(107
)
 
Below investment grade fixed income securities
178

 
800

 
(44
)
 
46

 
270

 
(40
)
 
(84
)
 
Total fixed income securities
345

 
$
2,075

 
$
(72
)
 
173

 
$
1,259

 
$
(119
)
 
$
(191
)
As of September 30, 2015, $296 million of the $456 million unrealized losses are related to securities with an unrealized loss position less than 20% of amortized cost or cost, the degree of which suggests that these securities do not pose a high risk of being other-than-temporarily impaired.  Of the $296 million, $126 million are related to unrealized losses on investment grade fixed income securities and $52 million are related to equity securities.  Of the remaining $118 million, $90 million have been in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months. Investment grade is defined as a security having a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s, a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”), Fitch, Dominion, Kroll or Realpoint, a rating of aaa, aa, a or bbb from A.M. Best, or a comparable internal rating if an externally provided rating is not available.  Unrealized losses on investment grade securities are principally related to increasing risk-free interest rates or widening credit spreads since the time of initial purchase.
As of September 30, 2015, the remaining $160 million of unrealized losses are related to securities in unrealized loss positions greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost or cost.  Investment grade fixed income securities comprising $61 million of these unrealized losses were evaluated based on factors such as discounted cash flows and the financial condition and near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer and were determined to have adequate resources to fulfill contractual obligations.  Of the $160 million, $77 million are related to below investment grade fixed income securities and $22 million are related to equity securities.  Of these amounts, $6 million are related to below investment grade fixed income securities that had been in an unrealized

13



loss position greater than or equal to 20% of amortized cost for a period of twelve or more consecutive months as of September 30, 2015.
ABS, RMBS and CMBS in an unrealized loss position were evaluated based on actual and projected collateral losses relative to the securities’ positions in the respective securitization trusts, security specific expectations of cash flows, and credit ratings.  This evaluation also takes into consideration credit enhancement, measured in terms of (i) subordination from other classes of securities in the trust that are contractually obligated to absorb losses before the class of security the Company owns, (ii) the expected impact of other structural features embedded in the securitization trust beneficial to the class of securities the Company owns, such as overcollateralization and excess spread, and (iii) for ABS and RMBS in an unrealized loss position, credit enhancements from reliable bond insurers, where applicable.  Municipal bonds in an unrealized loss position were evaluated based on the underlying credit quality of the primary obligator, obligation type and quality of the underlying assets.  Unrealized losses on equity securities are primarily related to temporary equity market fluctuations of securities that are expected to recover.
As of September 30, 2015, the Company has not made the decision to sell and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell fixed income securities with unrealized losses before recovery of the amortized cost basis.  As of September 30, 2015, the Company had the intent and ability to hold equity securities with unrealized losses for a period of time sufficient for them to recover.
Limited partnerships
As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the carrying value of equity method limited partnerships totaled $1.74 billion and $1.52 billion, respectively.  The Company recognizes an impairment loss for equity method limited partnerships when evidence demonstrates that the loss is other than temporary.  Evidence of a loss in value that is other than temporary may include the absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or the inability of the investee to sustain a level of earnings that would justify the carrying amount of the investment. 
As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the carrying value for cost method limited partnerships was $526 million and $508 million, respectively.  To determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the Company evaluates whether an impairment indicator has occurred in the period that may have a significant adverse effect on the carrying value of the investment.  Impairment indicators may include: significantly reduced valuations of the investments held by the limited partnerships; actual recent cash flows received being significantly less than expected cash flows; reduced valuations based on financing completed at a lower value; completed sale of a material underlying investment at a price significantly lower than expected; or any other adverse events since the last financial statements received that might affect the fair value of the investee’s capital.  Additionally, the Company’s portfolio monitoring process includes a quarterly review of all cost method limited partnerships to identify instances where the net asset value is below established thresholds for certain periods of time, as well as investments that are performing below expectations, for further impairment consideration.  If a cost method limited partnership is other-than-temporarily impaired, the carrying value is written down to fair value, generally estimated to be equivalent to the reported net asset value of the fund. 
Mortgage loans
Mortgage loans are evaluated for impairment on a specific loan basis through a quarterly credit monitoring process and review of key credit quality indicators.  Mortgage loans are considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will not collect the contractual principal and interest.  Valuation allowances are established for impaired loans to reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell or the present value of the loan’s expected future repayment cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate.  Impaired mortgage loans may not have a valuation allowance when the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell is higher than the carrying value.  Valuation allowances are adjusted for subsequent changes in the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell.  Mortgage loans are charged off against their corresponding valuation allowances when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.  The impairment evaluation is non-statistical in respect to the aggregate portfolio but considers facts and circumstances attributable to each loan.  It is not considered probable that additional impairment losses, beyond those identified on a specific loan basis, have been incurred as of September 30, 2015.
Accrual of income is suspended for mortgage loans that are in default or when full and timely collection of principal and interest payments is not probable.  Cash receipts on mortgage loans on nonaccrual status are generally recorded as a reduction of carrying value.
Debt service coverage ratio is considered a key credit quality indicator when mortgage loans are evaluated for impairment.  Debt service coverage ratio represents the amount of estimated cash flows from the property available to the borrower to meet principal and interest payment obligations.  Debt service coverage ratio estimates are updated annually or more frequently if conditions are warranted based on the Company’s credit monitoring process.




14



The following table reflects the carrying value of non-impaired fixed rate and variable rate mortgage loans summarized by debt service coverage ratio distribution.
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Debt service coverage
ratio distribution
Fixed rate
mortgage
loans
 
Variable rate
mortgage
loans
 
Total
 
Fixed rate
mortgage
loans
 
Variable rate
mortgage
loans
 
Total
Below 1.0
$
97

 
$

 
$
97

 
$
110

 
$

 
$
110

1.0 - 1.25
381

 

 
381

 
387

 

 
387

1.26 - 1.50
1,173

 

 
1,173

 
1,118

 
1

 
1,119

Above 1.50
2,166

 
1

 
2,167

 
2,054

 

 
2,054

Total non-impaired mortgage loans
$
3,817

 
$
1

 
$
3,818

 
$
3,669

 
$
1

 
$
3,670

Mortgage loans with a debt service coverage ratio below 1.0 that are not considered impaired primarily relate to instances where the borrower has the financial capacity to fund the revenue shortfalls from the properties for the foreseeable term, the decrease in cash flows from the properties is considered temporary, or there are other risk mitigating circumstances such as additional collateral, escrow balances or borrower guarantees.
The net carrying value of impaired mortgage loans is as follows:
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Impaired mortgage loans with a valuation allowance
$
9

 
$
16

Impaired mortgage loans without a valuation allowance

 

Total impaired mortgage loans
$
9

 
$
16

Valuation allowance on impaired mortgage loans
$
7

 
$
8

The average balance of impaired loans was $12 million and $29 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The rollforward of the valuation allowance on impaired mortgage loans is as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning balance
$
7

 
$
9

 
$
8

 
$
21

Net decrease in valuation allowance

 
(2
)
 

 
(6
)
Charge offs

 

 
(1
)
 
(8
)
Ending balance
$
7

 
$
7

 
$
7

 
$
7

Payments on all loans were current as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
 
4.  Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  The hierarchy for inputs used in determining fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available.  Assets and liabilities recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at fair value are categorized in the fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:
Level 1:     Assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that the Company can access.
Level 2:     Assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:
(a)
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
(b)
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or
(c)
Valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3:    Assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.  Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the assets and liabilities.
The availability of observable inputs varies by instrument.  In situations where fair value is based on internally developed pricing models or inputs that are unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment.  The degree

15



of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is typically greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.  In many instances, valuation inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  The category level in the fair value hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.  The Company uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market disruption.  In periods of market disruption, the ability to observe prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments.
The Company is responsible for the determination of fair value and the supporting assumptions and methodologies.  The Company gains assurance that assets and liabilities are appropriately valued through the execution of various processes and controls designed to ensure the overall reasonableness and consistent application of valuation methodologies, including inputs and assumptions, and compliance with accounting standards.  For fair values received from third parties or internally estimated, the Company’s processes and controls are designed to ensure that the valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistently applied, the inputs and assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value, and the fair values are accurately recorded.  For example, on a continuing basis, the Company assesses the reasonableness of individual fair values that have stale security prices or that exceed certain thresholds as compared to previous fair values received from valuation service providers or brokers or derived from internal models.  The Company performs procedures to understand and assess the methodologies, processes and controls of valuation service providers.  In addition, the Company may validate the reasonableness of fair values by comparing information obtained from valuation service providers or brokers to other third party valuation sources for selected securities.  The Company performs ongoing price validation procedures such as back-testing of actual sales, which corroborate the various inputs used in internal models to market observable data.  When fair value determinations are expected to be more variable, the Company validates them through reviews by members of management who have relevant expertise and who are independent of those charged with executing investment transactions.
The Company has two types of situations where investments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.  The first is where specific inputs significant to the fair value estimation models are not market observable. This primarily occurs in the Company’s use of broker quotes to value certain securities where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, and the use of valuation models that use significant non-market observable inputs.
The second situation where the Company classifies securities in Level 3 is where quotes continue to be received from independent third-party valuation service providers and all significant inputs are market observable; however, there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset when compared to normal market activity such that the degree of market observability has declined to a point where categorization as a Level 3 measurement is considered appropriate.  The indicators considered in determining whether a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for a specific asset has occurred include the level of new issuances in the primary market, trading volume in the secondary market, the level of credit spreads over historical levels, applicable bid-ask spreads, and price consensus among market participants and other pricing sources. 
Certain assets are not carried at fair value on a recurring basis, including investments such as mortgage loans, limited partnership interests, bank loans and policy loans.  Accordingly, such investments are only included in the fair value hierarchy disclosure when the investment is subject to remeasurement at fair value after initial recognition and the resulting remeasurement is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.  In addition, derivatives embedded in fixed income securities are not disclosed in the hierarchy as free-standing derivatives since they are presented with the host contracts in fixed income securities.
In determining fair value, the Company principally uses the market approach which generally utilizes market transaction data for the same or similar instruments.  To a lesser extent, the Company uses the income approach which involves determining fair values from discounted cash flow methodologies.  For the majority of Level 2 and Level 3 valuations, a combination of the market and income approaches is used.
Summary of significant valuation techniques for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Level 1 measurements 
Fixed income securities:  Comprise certain U.S. Treasury fixed income securities.  Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.
Equity securities:  Comprise actively traded, exchange-listed equity securities. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.
Short-term:  Comprise U.S. Treasury bills valued based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access and actively traded money market funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access.
Separate account assets:  Comprise actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access.  Net asset values for the actively traded mutual funds in which the separate account assets are invested are obtained daily from the fund managers.


16



Level 2 measurements
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
Municipal:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
Corporate, including privately placed:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.  Also included are privately placed securities valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses market observable inputs and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.  The primary inputs to the discounted cash flow model include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets in markets that are not active that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.
Foreign government:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
ABS and RMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads.  Certain ABS are valued based on non-binding broker quotes whose inputs have been corroborated to be market observable.
CMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, collateral performance and credit spreads.
Redeemable preferred stock:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, underlying stock prices and credit spreads. 
Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active.
Short-term:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.  For certain short-term investments, amortized cost is used as the best estimate of fair value.
Other investments:  Free-standing exchange listed derivatives that are not actively traded are valued based on quoted prices for identical instruments in markets that are not active.
OTC derivatives, including interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts, certain options and certain credit default swaps, are valued using models that rely on inputs such as interest rate yield curves, currency rates, and counterparty credit spreads that are observable for substantially the full term of the contract.  The valuation techniques underlying the models are widely accepted in the financial services industry and do not involve significant judgment.
Level 3 measurements
Fixed income securities:
Municipal:  Comprise municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies but are rated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”).  The primary inputs to the valuation of these municipal bonds include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.  Also included are municipal bonds valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.  Also includes auction rate securities (“ARS”) primarily backed by student loans that have become illiquid due to failures in the auction market and are valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses significant non-market observable inputs, including the anticipated date liquidity will return to the market.
Corporate, including privately placed:  Primarily valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.  Also included are equity-indexed notes which are valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses significant non-market observable inputs, such as volatility.  Other inputs include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.
ABS, RMBS and CMBS:  Valued based on non-binding broker quotes received from brokers who are familiar with the investments and where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.

17



Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements.
Other investments:  Certain OTC derivatives, such as interest rate caps, certain credit default swaps and certain options (including swaptions), are valued using models that are widely accepted in the financial services industry.  These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs such as volatility.  Other primary inputs include interest rate yield curves and credit spreads.
Contractholder funds:  Derivatives embedded in certain life and annuity contracts are valued internally using models widely accepted in the financial services industry that determine a single best estimate of fair value for the embedded derivatives within a block of contractholder liabilities.  The models primarily use stochastically determined cash flows based on the contractual elements of embedded derivatives, projected option cost and applicable market data, such as interest rate yield curves and equity index volatility assumptions.  These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis
Mortgage loans written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing impairments are valued based on the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell.  Limited partnership interests written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments are valued using net asset values. 
The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of September 30, 2015.
($ in millions)
Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Counterparty
and cash
collateral
netting
 
Balance as of September 30, 2015
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agencies
$
136

 
$
440

 
$

 
 

 
$
576

Municipal

 
2,437

 
89

 
 

 
2,526

Corporate

 
18,368

 
535

 
 

 
18,903

Foreign government

 
430

 

 
 

 
430

ABS

 
1,590

 
131

 
 

 
1,721

RMBS

 
489

 

 
 

 
489

CMBS

 
512

 

 
 

 
512

Redeemable preferred stock

 
16

 

 
 

 
16

Total fixed income securities
136

 
24,282

 
755

 
 

 
25,173

Equity securities
1,300

 
6

 
64

 
 

 
1,370

Short-term investments
51

 
886

 

 
 

 
937

Other investments: Free-standing derivatives

 
35

 
1

 
$
(11
)
 
25

Separate account assets
3,677

 

 

 
 
 
3,677

Other assets

 

 
1

 
 
 
1

Total recurring basis assets
5,164

 
25,209

 
821

 
(11
)
 
31,183

Non-recurring basis (1)

 

 
7

 

 
7

Total assets at fair value
$
5,164

 
$
25,209

 
$
828

 
$
(11
)
 
$
31,190

% of total assets at fair value
16.5
%
 
80.8
%
 
2.7
%
 
 %
 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$

 
$

 
$
(295
)
 
 

 
$
(295
)
Other liabilities: Free-standing derivatives
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(9
)
 
$
(1
)
 
(13
)
Total liabilities at fair value
$
(2
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(304
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(308
)
% of total liabilities at fair value
0.7
%
 
0.3
%
 
98.7
%
 
0.3
 %
 
100
%
 ____________
(1) 
Includes $7 million of other investments written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments.




18



The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2014.
($ in millions)
Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Counterparty
and cash
collateral
netting
 
Balance as of December 31, 2014
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. government and agencies
$
147

 
$
623

 
$

 
 

 
$
770

Municipal

 
3,556

 
106

 
 

 
3,662

Corporate

 
20,193

 
792

 
 

 
20,985

Foreign government

 
735

 

 
 

 
735

ABS

 
636

 
129

 
 

 
765

RMBS

 
605

 

 
 

 
605

CMBS

 
578

 
1

 
 

 
579

Redeemable preferred stock

 
16

 

 
 

 
16

Total fixed income securities
147

 
26,942

 
1,028

 
 

 
28,117

Equity securities
927

 
6

 
37

 
 

 
970

Short-term investments
90

 
767

 

 
 

 
857

Other investments: Free-standing derivatives

 
90

 
2

 
$
(2
)
 
90

Separate account assets
4,396

 

 

 
 
 
4,396

Other assets
1

 

 
1

 
 
 
2

Total recurring basis assets
5,561

 
27,805

 
1,068

 
(2
)
 
34,432

Non-recurring basis (1)

 

 
9

 


 
9

Total assets at fair value
$
5,561

 
$
27,805

 
$
1,077

 
$
(2
)
 
$
34,441

% of total assets at fair value
16.2
%
 
80.7
%
 
3.1
%
 
 %
 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$

 
$

 
$
(323
)
 
 

 
$
(323
)
Other liabilities: Free-standing derivatives

 
(24
)
 
(9
)
 
$
2

 
(31
)
Total liabilities at fair value
$

 
$
(24
)
 
$
(332
)
 
$
2

 
$
(354
)
% of total liabilities at fair value
%
 
6.8
%
 
93.8
%
 
(0.6
)%
 
100.0
%
 
____________
(1) 
Includes $6 million of mortgage loans and $3 million of limited partnership interests written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments.
The following table summarizes quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements.
($ in millions)
Fair value
 
Valuation
technique
 
Unobservable
input
 
Range
 
Weighted
average
September 30, 2015
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts – Equity-indexed and forward starting options
$
(242
)
 
Stochastic cash flow model
 
Projected option cost
 
1.0 - 2.2%
 
1.76
%
December 31, 2014
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts – Equity-indexed and forward starting options
$
(278
)
 
Stochastic cash flow model
 
Projected option cost
 
1.0 - 2.0%
 
1.76
%
The embedded derivatives are equity-indexed and forward starting options in certain life and annuity products that provide customers with interest crediting rates based on the performance of the S&P 500. If the projected option cost increased (decreased), it would result in a higher (lower) liability fair value.
As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Level 3 fair value measurements of fixed income securities total $755 million and $1.03 billion, respectively, and include $635 million and $914 million, respectively, of securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.  The Company does not develop the unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value; therefore, these are not included in the table above.  However, an increase

19



(decrease) in credit spreads for fixed income securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes would result in a lower (higher) fair value.
The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended September 30, 2015.
($ in millions)
 
 
Total gains (losses)
included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of June 30, 2015
 
Net
income (1)
 
OCI
 
Transfers
into
Level 3
 
Transfers
out of
Level 3
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$
101

 
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
Corporate
569

 
10

 
(9
)
 

 
(23
)
 
 
ABS
105

 

 
(1
)
 
15

 

 
 
Total fixed income securities
775

 
12

 
(10
)
 
15

 
(23
)
 
 
Equity securities
46

 

 
(1
)
 

 

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net
(7
)
 
(1
)
 

 

 

 
 
Other assets
1

 

 

 

 

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
815

 
$
11

 
$
(11
)
 
$
15

 
$
(23
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$
(315
)
 
$
19

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$
(315
)
 
$
19

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Issues
 
Settlements
 
Balance as of September 30, 2015
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$

 
$
(14
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
89

 
 
Corporate
1

 
(11
)
 

 
(2
)
 
535

 
 
ABS
27

 

 

 
(15
)
 
131

 
 
Total fixed income securities
28

 
(25
)
 

 
(17
)
 
755

 
 
Equity securities
19

 

 

 

 
64

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

 

 
(8
)
 
(2) 
Other assets

 

 

 

 
1

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
47

 
$
(25
)
 
$

 
$
(17
)
 
$
812

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
(295
)
 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
(295
)
 
 
 ____________
(1) 
The effect to net income totals $30 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows: $8 million in realized capital gains and losses, $3 million in net investment income, $27 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(8) million in contract benefits.
(2) 
Comprises $1 million of assets and $9 million of liabilities.











20



The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
($ in millions)
 
 
Total gains (losses)
included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2014
 
Net
income (1)
 
OCI
 
Transfers
into
Level 3
 
Transfers
out of
Level 3
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$
106

 
$
3

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$

 
 
Corporate
792

 
11

 
(15
)
 
2

 
(150
)
 
 
ABS
129

 
(1
)
 
1

 
21

 
(27
)
 
 
CMBS
1

 

 
(1
)
 

 

 
 
Total fixed income securities
1,028

 
13

 
(17
)
 
23

 
(177
)
 
 
Equity securities
37

 

 

 

 

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net
(7
)
 

 

 

 

 
 
Other assets
1

 

 

 

 

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
1,059

 
$
13

 
$
(17
)
 
$
23

 
$
(177
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$
(323
)
 
$
24

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$
(323
)
 
$
24

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Issues
 
Settlements
 
Balance as of September 30, 2015
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$

 
$
(17
)
 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$
89

 
 
Corporate
20

 
(58
)
 

 
(67
)
 
535

 
 
ABS
27

 

 

 
(19
)
 
131

 
 
CMBS

 

 

 

 

 
 
Total fixed income securities
47

 
(75
)
 

 
(87
)
 
755

 
 
Equity securities
27

 

 

 

 
64

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(8
)
 
(2) 
Other assets

 

 

 

 
1

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
74

 
$
(75
)
 
$

 
$
(88
)
 
$
812

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$

 
$

 
(1
)
 
5

 
$
(295
)
 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$

 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$
5

 
$
(295
)
 
 
 ____________
(1) 
The effect to net income totals $37 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows: $4 million in realized capital gains and losses, $9 million in net investment income, $32 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(8) million in contract benefits.
(2) 
Comprises $1 million of assets and $9 million of liabilities.













21



The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended September 30, 2014.
($ in millions)
 
 
Total gains (losses) included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of June 30, 2014
 
Net
income (1)
 
OCI
 
Transfers
into
Level 3
 
Transfers
out of
Level 3
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$
102

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
Corporate
883

 
3

 
(13
)
 
18

 

 
 
ABS
105

 

 
1

 

 

 
 
CMBS
5

 

 

 

 

 
 
Total fixed income securities
1,095

 
3

 
(12
)
 
18

 

 
 
Equity securities
7

 

 

 

 

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net
(5
)
 

 

 

 

 
 
Other assets
1

 

 

 

 

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
1,098

 
$
3

 
$
(12
)
 
$
18

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$
(331
)
 
$
9

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$
(331
)
 
$
9

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Issues
 
Settlements
 
Balance as of September 30, 2014
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
101

 
 
Corporate
4

 
(3
)
 

 
(53
)
 
839

 
 
ABS
10

 

 

 
(2
)
 
114

 
 
CMBS

 

 

 

 
5

 
 
Total fixed income securities
14

 
(4
)
 

 
(55
)
 
1,059

 
 
Equity securities
30

 

 

 

 
37

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(6
)
 
(2) 
Other assets

 

 

 

 
1

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
44

 
$
(4
)
 
$

 
$
(56
)
 
$
1,091

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
(321
)
 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
(321
)
 
 
__________
(1) 
The effect to net income totals $12 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows: $3 million in net investment income, $5 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $4 million in contract benefits.
(2) 
Comprises $3 million of assets and $9 million of liabilities.













22



The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
($ in millions)
 
 
Total gains (losses)included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2013
 
Net
income (1)
 
OCI
 
Transfers
into
Level 3
 
Transfers
out of
Level 3
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$
119

 
$
(1
)
 
$
3

 
$

 
$
(17
)
 
 
Corporate
1,008

 
14

 
(4
)
 
18

 
(26
)
 
 
ABS
112

 

 
2

 

 
(12
)
 
 
CMBS
1

 

 

 

 

 
 
Redeemable preferred stock
1

 

 

 

 

 
 
Total fixed income securities
1,241

 
13

 
1

 
18

 
(55
)
 
 
Equity securities
6

 

 

 

 

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net
(5
)
 
1

 

 

 

 
 
Other assets

 
1

 

 

 

 
 
Assets held for sale
362

 
(1
)
 
2

 
4

 
(2
)
 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
1,604

 
$
14

 
$
3

 
$
22

 
$
(57
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$
(307
)
 
$
(5
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
Liabilities held for sale
(246
)
 
17

 

 

 

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$
(553
)
 
$
12

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sold in LBL disposition (3)
 
Purchases/Issues  (4)
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Balance as of September 30, 2014
 
 
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Municipal
$

 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
$

 
$
101

 
 
Corporate

 
16

 
(92
)
 
(95
)
 
839

 
 
ABS

 
21

 

 
(9
)
 
114

 
 
CMBS
4

 

 

 

 
5

 
 
Redeemable preferred stock

 

 
(1
)
 

 

 
 
Total fixed income securities
4

 
37

 
(96
)
 
(104
)
 
1,059

 
 
Equity securities

 
31

 

 

 
37

 
 
Free-standing derivatives, net

 
2

 

 
(4
)
 
(6
)
 
(2) 
Other assets

 

 

 

 
1

 
 
Assets held for sale
(351
)
 

 
(8
)
 
(6
)
 

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
(347
)
 
$
70

 
$
(104
)
 
$
(114
)
 
$
1,091

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$

 
$
(13
)
 
$

 
$
4

 
$
(321
)
 
 
Liabilities held for sale
230

 
(4
)
 

 
3

 

 
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$
230

 
$
(17
)
 
$

 
$
7

 
$
(321
)
 
 
__________
(1) 
The effect to net income totals $26 million and is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income as follows: $8 million in realized capital gains and losses, $9 million in net investment income, $5 million in interest credited to contractholder funds, $8 million in contract benefits and $(4) million in loss on disposition of operations.
(2) 
Comprises $3 million of assets and $9 million of liabilities.
(3) 
Includes transfers from held for sale that took place in first quarter 2014 of $4 million for CMBS and $(4) million for Assets held for sale.
(4) 
Represents purchases for assets and issues for liabilities.



23



Transfers between level categorizations may occur due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs, which generally are caused by changes in market conditions such as liquidity, trading volume or bid-ask spreads.  Transfers between level categorizations may also occur due to changes in the valuation source.  For example, in situations where a fair value quote is not provided by the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result the price is stale or has been replaced with a broker quote whose inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, the security is transferred into Level 3.  Transfers in and out of level categorizations are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurred.  Therefore, for all transfers into Level 3, all realized and changes in unrealized gains and losses in the quarter of transfer are reflected in the Level 3 rollforward table.
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014.
Transfers into Level 3 during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 included situations where a fair value quote was not provided by the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result the price was stale or had been replaced with a broker quote where the inputs had not been corroborated to be market observable resulting in the security being classified as Level 3.  Transfers out of Level 3 during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 included situations where a broker quote was used in the prior period and a fair value quote became available from the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider in the current period.  A quote utilizing the new pricing source was not available as of the prior period, and any gains or losses related to the change in valuation source for individual securities were not significant.
The following table provides the change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income for Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of September 30.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed income securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1
)
Corporate
3

 
3

 
8

 
8

ABS

 

 
1

 

CMBS

 

 

 
(1
)
Total fixed income securities
3

 
3

 
9

 
6

Equity securities
(1
)
 

 

 

Free-standing derivatives, net
(1
)
 

 

 
6

Other assets

 

 

 
1

Assets held for sale

 

 

 
(1
)
Total recurring Level 3 assets
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
9

 
$
12

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
$
19

 
$
9

 
$
24

 
$
(5
)
Liabilities held for sale

 

 

 
17

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
$
19

 
$
9

 
$
24

 
$
12

The amounts in the table above represent the change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income for the period of time that the asset or liability was determined to be in Level 3.  These gains and losses total $20 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and are reported as follows: $(2) million in realized capital gains and losses, $3 million in net investment income, $27 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(8) million in contract benefits.  These gains and losses total $12 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and are reported as follows: $3 million in net investment income, $5 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $4 million in contract benefits. These gains and losses total $33 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and are reported as follows: $(2) million in realized capital gains and losses, $11 million in net investment income, $32 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(8) million in contract benefits.  These gains and losses total $24 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and are reported as follows: $5 million in realized capital gains and losses, $6 million in net investment income, $5 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $8 million in contract benefits. 




24



Presented below are the carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments not carried at fair value.
Financial assets
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
Mortgage loans
$
3,827

 
$
4,020

 
$
3,686

 
$
3,922

Cost method limited partnerships
526

 
692

 
508

 
686

Bank loans
510

 
507

 
431

 
427

Agent loans
416

 
406

 
368

 
361

Notes due from related party
275

 
275

 
275

 
275

The fair value of mortgage loans is based on discounted contractual cash flows or, if the loans are impaired due to credit reasons, the fair value of collateral less costs to sell.  Risk adjusted discount rates are selected using current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar characteristics, using similar types of properties as collateral.  The fair value of cost method limited partnerships is determined using reported net asset values of the underlying funds.  The fair value of bank loans, which are reported in other investments, is based on broker quotes from brokers familiar with the loans and current market conditions.  The fair value of agent loans, which are reported in other investments, is based on discounted cash flow calculations that use discount rates with a spread over U.S. Treasury rates.  Assumptions used in developing estimated cash flows and discount rates consider the loan’s credit and liquidity risks.  The fair value of notes due from related party, which are reported in other investments, is based on discounted cash flow calculations using current interest rates for instruments with comparable terms.  The fair value measurements for mortgage loans, cost method limited partnerships, bank loans, agent loans, notes due from related party and assets held for sale are categorized as Level 3.
Financial liabilities
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
Contractholder funds on investment contracts
$
12,682

 
$
13,189

 
$
13,708

 
$
14,364

Notes due to related parties
275

 
275

 
275

 
275

Liability for collateral
503

 
503

 
510

 
510

The fair value of contractholder funds on investment contracts is based on the terms of the underlying contracts utilizing prevailing market rates for similar contracts adjusted for the Company’s own credit risk.  Deferred annuities included in contractholder funds are valued using discounted cash flow models that incorporate market value margins, which are based on the cost of holding economic capital, and the Company’s own credit risk.  Immediate annuities without life contingencies and fixed rate funding agreements are valued at the present value of future benefits using market implied interest rates which include the Company’s own credit risk.  The fair value measurements for contractholder funds on investment contracts are categorized as Level 3.
The fair value of notes due to related parties is based on discounted cash flow calculations using current interest rates for instruments with comparable terms and considers the Company’s own credit risk.  The liability for collateral is valued at carrying value due to its short-term nature.  The fair value measurements for liability for collateral are categorized as Level 2.  The fair value measurements for notes due to related parties are categorized as Level 3.
5.  Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company uses derivatives for risk reduction and to increase investment portfolio returns through asset replication. Risk reduction activity is focused on managing the risks with certain assets and liabilities arising from the potential adverse impacts from changes in risk-free interest rates, changes in equity market valuations, increases in credit spreads and foreign currency fluctuations. 
Asset-liability management is a risk management strategy that is principally employed to balance the respective interest-rate sensitivities of the Company’s assets and liabilities.  Depending upon the attributes of the assets acquired and liabilities issued, derivative instruments such as interest rate swaps, caps, swaptions and futures are utilized to change the interest rate characteristics of existing assets and liabilities to ensure the relationship is maintained within specified ranges and to reduce exposure to rising or falling interest rates.  The Company uses futures and options for hedging the equity exposure contained in its equity indexed life and annuity product contracts that offer equity returns to contractholders.  In addition, the Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate risk inherent in funding agreements.  The Company uses foreign currency swaps and forwards primarily to reduce the foreign currency risk associated with holding foreign currency denominated investments.  Credit default swaps are typically used to mitigate the credit risk within the Company’s fixed income portfolio.

25



The Company may also use derivatives to manage the risk associated with corporate actions, including the sale of a business. During 2014, swaptions were utilized to hedge the expected proceeds from the disposition of Lincoln Benefit Life Company (“LBL”).
Asset replication refers to the “synthetic” creation of assets through the use of derivatives and primarily investment grade host bonds to replicate securities that are either unavailable in the cash markets or more economical to acquire in synthetic form.  The Company replicates fixed income securities using a combination of a credit default swap or a foreign currency forward contract and one or more highly rated fixed income securities to synthetically replicate the economic characteristics of one or more cash market securities.
The Company also has derivatives embedded in non-derivative host contracts that are required to be separated from the host contracts and accounted for at fair value with changes in fair value of embedded derivatives reported in net income.  The Company’s primary embedded derivatives are equity options in life and annuity product contracts, which provide equity returns to contractholders; conversion options in fixed income securities, which provide the Company with the right to convert the instrument into a predetermined number of shares of common stock; credit default swaps in synthetic collateralized debt obligations, which provide enhanced coupon rates as a result of selling credit protection; and equity-indexed notes containing equity call options, which provide a coupon payout that is determined using one or more equity-based indices.
When derivatives meet specific criteria, they may be designated as accounting hedges and accounted for as fair value, cash flow, foreign currency fair value or foreign currency cash flow hedges.  The Company designates certain of its interest rate and foreign currency swap contracts and certain investment risk transfer reinsurance agreements as fair value hedges when the hedging instrument is highly effective in offsetting the risk of changes in the fair value of the hedged item.  The Company designates certain of its foreign currency swap contracts as cash flow hedges when the hedging instrument is highly effective in offsetting the exposure of variations in cash flows for the hedged risk that could affect net income.  Amounts are reclassified to net investment income or realized capital gains and losses as the hedged item affects net income.
The notional amounts specified in the contracts are used to calculate the exchange of contractual payments under the agreements and are generally not representative of the potential for gain or loss on these agreements.  However, the notional amounts specified in credit default swaps where the Company has sold credit protection represent the maximum amount of potential loss, assuming no recoveries.
Fair value, which is equal to the carrying value, is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the derivative contracts at the reporting date.  The carrying value amounts for OTC derivatives are further adjusted for the effects, if any, of enforceable master netting agreements and are presented on a net basis, by counterparty agreement, in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  For certain exchange traded and cleared derivatives, margin deposits are required as well as daily cash settlements of margin accounts.  As of September 30, 2015, the Company pledged $11 million of cash as margin deposits.
For those derivatives which qualify for fair value hedge accounting, net income includes the changes in the fair value of both the derivative instrument and the hedged risk, and therefore reflects any hedging ineffectiveness.  For cash flow hedges, gains and losses are amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income and are reported in net income in the same period the forecasted transactions being hedged impact net income.
Non-hedge accounting is generally used for “portfolio” level hedging strategies where the terms of the individual hedged items do not meet the strict homogeneity requirements to permit the application of hedge accounting.  For non-hedge derivatives, net income includes changes in fair value and accrued periodic settlements, when applicable.  With the exception of non-hedge derivatives used for asset replication and non-hedge embedded derivatives, all of the Company’s derivatives are evaluated for their ongoing effectiveness as either accounting hedge or non-hedge derivative financial instruments on at least a quarterly basis.















26



The following table provides a summary of the volume and fair value positions of derivative instruments as well as their reporting location in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of September 30, 2015.
($ in millions, except number of contracts)
 
 
Volume (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance sheet location
 
Notional
amount
 
Number
of
contracts
 
Fair
value,
net
 
Gross
asset
 
Gross
liability
Asset derivatives
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivatives designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency swap agreements
Other investments
 
$
18

 
n/a

 
$
4

 
$
4

 
$

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate cap agreements
Other investments
 
135

 
n/a

 
1

 
1

 

Financial futures contracts
Other assets
 

 
330

 

 

 

Equity and index contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Options
Other investments
 

 
3,820

 
21

 
21

 

Financial futures contracts
Other assets
 

 
59

 

 

 

Foreign currency contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency forwards
Other investments
 
60

 
n/a

 

 

 

Credit default contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Credit default swaps – buying protection
Other investments
 
29

 
n/a

 
2

 
2

 

Credit default swaps – selling protection
Other investments
 
80

 
n/a

 
1

 
1

 

Other contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Other contracts
Other assets
 
3

 
n/a

 
1

 
1

 

Subtotal
 
 
307

 
4,209

 
26

 
26

 

Total asset derivatives
 
 
$
325

 
4,209

 
$
30

 
$
30

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability derivatives
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivatives designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency swap agreements
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
$
56

 
n/a

 
$
7

 
$
7

 
$

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate swap agreements
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
85

 
n/a

 

 

 

Equity and index contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Options and futures
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 

 
5,239

 
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
Foreign currency contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency forwards
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
10

 
n/a

 

 

 

Embedded derivative financial instruments
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Guaranteed accumulation benefits
Contractholder funds
 
496

 
n/a

 
(39
)
 

 
(39
)
Guaranteed withdrawal benefits
Contractholder funds
 
342

 
n/a

 
(14
)
 

 
(14
)
Equity-indexed and forward starting options in life and annuity product contracts
Contractholder funds
 
1,773

 
n/a

 
(242
)
 

 
(242
)
Other embedded derivative financial instruments
Contractholder funds
 
85

 
n/a

 

 

 

Credit default contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Credit default swaps – buying protection
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
15

 
n/a

 

 

 

Credit default swaps – selling protection
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
100

 
n/a

 
(9
)
 

 
(9
)
Subtotal
 
 
2,906

 
5,239

 
(307
)
 

 
(307
)
Total liability derivatives
 
 
2,962

 
5,239

 
(300
)
 
$
7

 
$
(307
)
Total derivatives
 
 
$
3,287

 
9,448

 
$
(270
)
 
 

 
 

___________

(1) 
Volume for OTC derivative contracts is represented by their notional amounts.  Volume for exchange traded derivatives is represented by the number of contracts, which is the basis on which they are traded.  (n/a = not applicable)









27



The following table provides a summary of the volume and fair value positions of derivative instruments as well as their reporting location in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2014.
($ in millions, except number of contracts)
 
 
Volume (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance sheet location
 
Notional
amount
 
Number
of
contracts
 
Fair
value,
net
 
Gross
asset
 
Gross
liability
Asset derivatives
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivatives designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency swap agreements
Other investments
 
$
85

 
n/a

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate cap agreements
Other investments
 
163

 
n/a

 
2

 
2

 

Equity and index contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Options
Other investments
 

 
3,225

 
83

 
83

 

Financial futures contracts
Other assets
 

 
704

 
1

 
1

 

Foreign currency contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency forwards
Other investments
 
57

 
n/a

 

 

 

Credit default contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Credit default swaps – buying protection
Other investments
 
19

 
n/a

 

 

 

Credit default swaps – selling protection
Other investments
 
80

 
n/a

 
2

 
2

 

Other contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Other contracts
Other assets
 
3

 
n/a

 
1

 
1

 

Subtotal
 
 
322

 
3,929

 
89

 
89

 

Total asset derivatives
 
 
$
407

 
3,929

 
$
92

 
$
92

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability derivatives
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivatives designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency swap agreements
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
$
50

 
n/a

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
(1
)
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate swap agreements
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
85

 
n/a

 
1

 
1

 

Interest rate cap agreements
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
11

 
n/a

 

 

 

Financial futures contracts
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 

 
200

 

 

 

Equity and index contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Options and futures
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 

 
3,131

 
(22
)
 

 
(22
)
Foreign currency contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forwards
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
36

 
n/a

 
1

 
1

 

Embedded derivative financial instruments
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Guaranteed accumulation benefits
Contractholder funds
 
615

 
n/a

 
(32
)
 

 
(32
)
Guaranteed withdrawal benefits
Contractholder funds
 
425

 
n/a

 
(13
)
 

 
(13
)
Equity-indexed and forward starting options in life and annuity product contracts
Contractholder funds
 
1,786

 
n/a

 
(278
)
 

 
(278
)
Other embedded derivative financial instruments
Contractholder funds
 
85

 
n/a

 

 

 

Credit default contracts
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Credit default swaps – buying protection
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
49

 
n/a

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Credit default swaps – selling protection
Other liabilities & accrued expenses
 
100

 
n/a

 
(9
)
 

 
(9
)
Subtotal
 
 
3,192

 
3,331

 
(353
)
 
2

 
(355
)
Total liability derivatives
 
 
3,242

 
3,331

 
(354
)
 
$
2

 
$
(356
)
Total derivatives
 
 
$
3,649

 
7,260

 
$
(262
)
 
 

 
 

____________
 
(1) 
Volume for OTC derivative contracts is represented by their notional amounts.  Volume for exchange traded derivatives is represented by the number of contracts, which is the basis on which they are traded.  (n/a = not applicable)





28



The following table provides gross and net amounts for the Company’s OTC derivatives, all of which are subject to enforceable master netting agreements.
($ in millions)
 
 
Offsets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross
amount
 
Counter-
party
netting
 
Cash
collateral
(received)
pledged
 
Net
amount on
balance
sheet
 
Securities
collateral
(received)
pledged
 
Net
amount
September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Asset derivatives
$
15

 
$
(7
)
 
$
(4
)
 
$
4

 
$
(1
)
 
$
3

Liability derivatives
(9
)
 
7

 
(8
)
 
(10
)
 
7

 
(3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Asset derivatives
$
7

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$
5

 
$
(4
)
 
$
1

Liability derivatives
(11
)
 
2

 

 
(9
)
 
7

 
(2
)
The following table provides a summary of the impacts of the Company’s foreign currency contracts in cash flow hedging relationships.  Amortization of net gains from accumulated other comprehensive income related to cash flow hedges is expected to be a gain of $3 million during the next twelve months.  There was no hedge ineffectiveness reported in realized gains and losses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Gain recognized in OCI on derivatives during the period
$
4

 
$
10

 
$
11

 
$
6

Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivatives during the term of the hedging relationship
11

 
(4
)
 
11

 
(4
)
Loss reclassified from AOCI into income (net investment income)

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income (realized capital gains and losses)

 

 
3

 
(2
)





















29



The following tables present gains and losses from valuation and settlements reported on derivatives not designated as accounting hedging instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.  For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company had no derivatives used in fair value hedging relationships.
($ in millions)
Realized
capital
gains and
losses
 
Contract
benefits
 
Interest
credited to
contractholder
funds
 
Loss on
disposition
of
operations
 
Total gain (loss)
recognized in
net income on
derivatives
Three months ended September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate contracts
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1
)
Equity and index contracts
11




(27
)



(16
)
Embedded derivative financial instruments


(8
)

28




20

Foreign currency contracts
3








3

Credit default contracts
2








2

Other contracts




(1
)



(1
)
Total
$
15


$
(8
)

$


$


$
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Equity and index contracts
$
10

 
$

 
$
(23
)
 
$

 
$
(13
)
Embedded derivative financial instruments

 
(8
)
 
36

 

 
28

Foreign currency contracts
5

 

 

 

 
5

Credit default contracts
3

 

 

 

 
3

Total
$
18

 
$
(8
)
 
$
13

 
$

 
$
23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity and index contracts
$

 
$

 
$
4

 
$

 
$
4

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 
4

 
6

 

 
10

Foreign currency contracts
4

 

 

 

 
4

Other contracts

 

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Total
$
4

 
$
4

 
$
9

 
$

 
$
17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(4
)
 
$
(6
)
Equity and index contracts

 

 
25

 

 
25

Embedded derivative financial instruments

 
8

 
(5
)
 

 
3

Foreign currency contracts
4

 

 

 

 
4

Credit default contracts
7

 

 

 

 
7

Total
$
9

 
$
8

 
$
20

 
$
(4
)
 
$
33

The Company manages its exposure to credit risk by utilizing highly rated counterparties, establishing risk control limits, executing legally enforceable master netting agreements (“MNAs”) and obtaining collateral where appropriate.  The Company uses MNAs for OTC derivative transactions that permit either party to net payments due for transactions and collateral is either pledged or obtained when certain predetermined exposure limits are exceeded.  As of September 30, 2015, counterparties pledged $13 million in cash and securities to the Company, and the Company pledged $7 million in securities to counterparties which includes $7 million of collateral posted under MNAs for contracts containing credit-risk-contingent provisions that are in a liability position. The Company has not incurred any losses on derivative financial instruments due to counterparty nonperformance.  Other derivatives, including futures and certain option contracts, are traded on organized exchanges which require margin deposits and guarantee the execution of trades, thereby mitigating any potential credit risk.
Counterparty credit exposure represents the Company’s potential loss if all of the counterparties concurrently fail to perform under the contractual terms of the contracts and all collateral, if any, becomes worthless.  This exposure is measured by the fair value of OTC derivative contracts with a positive fair value at the reporting date reduced by the effect, if any, of legally enforceable master netting agreements.






30



The following table summarizes the counterparty credit exposure by counterparty credit rating as it relates to the Company’s OTC derivatives.
($ in millions)
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Rating (1)
 
Number of counter-parties
 
Notional amount (2)
 
Credit exposure (2)
 
Exposure, net of collateral (2)
 
Number of
counter-
parties
 
Notional
amount (2)
 
Credit
exposure (2)
 
Exposure, net of collateral (2)
A+
 
1

 
$
95

 
$
5

 
$
1

 
1

 
$
164

 
$
2

 
$
1

A
 
5

 
177

 
8

 
2

 
3

 
88

 
3

 
1

A-
 
2

 
41

 
2

 

 
1

 
8

 

 

BBB+
 

 

 

 

 
1

 
11

 

 

BBB
 

 

 

 

 
1

 
52

 

 

Total
 
8

 
$
313

 
$
15

 
$
3

 
7

 
$
323

 
$
5

 
$
2

__________
 
(1) 
Rating is the lower of S&P or Moody’s ratings.
(2) 
Only OTC derivatives with a net positive fair value are included for each counterparty.
Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse changes in market rates and prices.  Market risk exists for all of the derivative financial instruments the Company currently holds, as these instruments may become less valuable due to adverse changes in market conditions.  To limit this risk, the Company’s senior management has established risk control limits.  In addition, changes in fair value of the derivative financial instruments that the Company uses for risk management purposes are generally offset by the change in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged risk component of the related assets, liabilities or forecasted transactions.
Certain of the Company’s derivative instruments contain credit-risk-contingent termination events, cross-default provisions and credit support annex agreements.  Credit-risk-contingent termination events allow the counterparties to terminate the derivative agreement or a specific trade on certain dates if AIC’s, ALIC’s or Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York’s (“ALNY”) financial strength credit ratings by Moody’s or S&P fall below a certain level.  Credit-risk-contingent cross-default provisions allow the counterparties to terminate the derivative agreement if the Company defaults by pre-determined threshold amounts on certain debt instruments.  Credit-risk-contingent credit support annex agreements specify the amount of collateral the Company must post to counterparties based on AIC’s, ALIC’s or ALNY’s financial strength credit ratings by Moody’s or S&P, or in the event AIC, ALIC or ALNY are no longer rated by either Moody’s or S&P.
The following summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments with termination, cross-default or collateral credit-risk-contingent features that are in a liability position, as well as the fair value of assets and collateral that are netted against the liability in accordance with provisions within legally enforceable MNAs.
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Gross liability fair value of contracts containing credit-risk-contingent features
$
9

 
$
11

Gross asset fair value of contracts containing credit-risk-contingent features and subject to MNAs

 
(2
)
Collateral posted under MNAs for contracts containing credit-risk-contingent features
(7
)
 
(7
)
Maximum amount of additional exposure for contracts with credit-risk-contingent features if all features were triggered concurrently
$
2

 
$
2

Credit derivatives - selling protection
Free-standing credit default swaps (“CDS”) are utilized for selling credit protection against a specified credit event.  A credit default swap is a derivative instrument, representing an agreement between two parties to exchange the credit risk of a specified entity (or a group of entities), or an index based on the credit risk of a group of entities (all commonly referred to as the “reference entity” or a portfolio of “reference entities”), in return for a periodic premium.  In selling protection, CDS are used to replicate fixed income securities and to complement the cash market when credit exposure to certain issuers is not available or when the derivative alternative is less expensive than the cash market alternative.  CDS typically have a five-year term.







31



The following table shows the CDS notional amounts by credit rating and fair value of protection sold.
($ in millions)
Notional amount
 
 
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
BB and
lower
 
Total
 
Fair
value
September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

First-to-default Basket
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal
$

 
$
100

 
$

 
$

 
$
100

 
$
(9
)
Index
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate debt
1

 
20

 
53

 
6

 
80

 
1

Total
$
1

 
$
120

 
$
53

 
$
6

 
$
180

 
$
(8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

First-to-default Basket
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal
$

 
$
100

 
$

 
$

 
$
100

 
$
(9
)
Index
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate debt

 
22

 
52

 
6

 
80

 
2

Total
$

 
$
122

 
$
52

 
$
6

 
$
180

 
$
(7
)
In selling protection with CDS, the Company sells credit protection on an identified single name, a basket of names in a first-to-default (“FTD”) structure or credit derivative index (“CDX”) that is generally investment grade, and in return receives periodic premiums through expiration or termination of the agreement.  With single name CDS, this premium or credit spread generally corresponds to the difference between the yield on the reference entity’s public fixed maturity cash instruments and swap rates at the time the agreement is executed.  With a FTD basket, because of the additional credit risk inherent in a basket of named reference entities, the premium generally corresponds to a high proportion of the sum of the credit spreads of the names in the basket and the correlation between the names.  CDX is utilized to take a position on multiple (generally 125) reference entities.  Credit events are typically defined as bankruptcy, failure to pay, or restructuring, depending on the nature of the reference entities.  If a credit event occurs, the Company settles with the counterparty, either through physical settlement or cash settlement.  In a physical settlement, a reference asset is delivered by the buyer of protection to the Company, in exchange for cash payment at par, whereas in a cash settlement, the Company pays the difference between par and the prescribed value of the reference asset.  When a credit event occurs in a single name or FTD basket (for FTD, the first credit event occurring for any one name in the basket), the contract terminates at the time of settlement.  For CDX, the reference entity’s name incurring the credit event is removed from the index while the contract continues until expiration.  The maximum payout on a CDS is the contract notional amount.  A physical settlement may afford the Company with recovery rights as the new owner of the asset.
The Company monitors risk associated with credit derivatives through individual name credit limits at both a credit derivative and a combined cash instrument/credit derivative level.  The ratings of individual names for which protection has been sold are also monitored.















32



6.  Reinsurance
The effects of reinsurance on premiums and contract charges are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Direct
$
180

 
$
185

 
$
546

 
$
893

Assumed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliate
33

 
32

 
98

 
97

Non-affiliate
208

 
199

 
627

 
410

Ceded
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliate
(13
)
 

 
(27
)
 

Non-affiliate
(78
)
 
(82
)
 
(239
)
 
(307
)
Premiums and contract charges, net of reinsurance
$
330

 
$
334

 
$
1,005

 
$
1,093

The effects of reinsurance on contract benefits are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Direct
$
228

 
$
277

 
$
749

 
$
1,023

Assumed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliate
20

 
20

 
59

 
66

Non-affiliate
141

 
135

 
411

 
277

Ceded
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliate
(12
)
 

 
(23
)
 

Non-affiliate
(24
)
 
(76
)
 
(139
)
 
(265
)
Contract benefits, net of reinsurance
$
353

 
$
356

 
$
1,057

 
$
1,101

The effects of reinsurance on interest credited to contractholder funds are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Direct
$
170

 
$
167

 
$
486

 
$
656

Assumed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliate
2

 
2

 
7

 
6

Non-affiliate
20

 
27

 
81

 
54

Ceded
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affiliate
(5
)
 

 
(10
)
 

Non-affiliate
(6
)
 
(5
)
 
(18
)
 
(20
)
Interest credited to contractholder funds, net of reinsurance
$
181

 
$
191

 
$
546

 
$
696

 
7.  Guarantees and Contingent Liabilities
Guarantees
The Company owns certain investments that obligate the Company to exchange credit risk or to forfeit principal due, depending on the nature or occurrence of specified credit events for the reference entities.  In the event all such specified credit events were to occur, the Company’s maximum amount at risk on these investments, as measured by the amount of the aggregate initial investment, was $4 million as of September 30, 2015.  The obligations associated with these investments expire at various dates on or before March 11, 2018.
In the normal course of business, the Company provides standard indemnifications to contractual counterparties in connection with numerous transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures.  The types of indemnifications typically provided include indemnifications for breaches of representations and warranties, taxes and certain other liabilities, such as third party lawsuits.  The indemnification clauses are often standard contractual terms and are entered into in the normal course of business based on an assessment that the risk of loss would be remote.  The terms of the indemnifications vary in duration and nature.  In many cases, the maximum obligation is not explicitly stated and the contingencies triggering the obligation to indemnify have not occurred and are not expected to occur.  Consequently, the maximum amount of the obligation under such indemnifications is not determinable.  Historically, the Company has not made any material payments pursuant to these obligations.

33



Related to the sale of LBL on April 1, 2014, the Company agreed to indemnify Resolution Life Holdings, Inc. in connection with certain representations, warranties and covenants of the Company, and certain liabilities specifically excluded from the transaction, subject to specific contractual limitations regarding the Company’s maximum obligation.  Management does not believe these indemnifications will have a material effect on results of operations, cash flows or financial position of the Company.
Related to the disposal through reinsurance of substantially all of the Company’s variable annuity business to Prudential in 2006, the Company and the Corporation have agreed to indemnify Prudential for certain pre-closing contingent liabilities (including extra-contractual liabilities of the Company and liabilities specifically excluded from the transaction) that the Company has agreed to retain.  In addition, the Company and the Corporation will each indemnify Prudential for certain post-closing liabilities that may arise from the acts of the Company and its agents, including certain liabilities arising from the Company’s provision of transition services.  The reinsurance agreements contain no limitations or indemnifications with regard to insurance risk transfer, and transferred all of the future risks and responsibilities for performance on the underlying variable annuity contracts to Prudential, including those related to benefit guarantees.  Management does not believe this agreement will have a material effect on results of operations, cash flows or financial position of the Company.
The aggregate liability balance related to all guarantees was not material as of September 30, 2015.
Regulation and Compliance
The Company is subject to extensive laws, regulations and regulatory conditions.  From time to time, regulatory authorities or legislative bodies seek to impose additional regulations regarding agent and broker compensation, regulate the nature of and amount of investments, impose fines and penalties for unintended errors or mistakes, and otherwise expand overall regulation of insurance products and the insurance industry.  In addition, the Company is subject to laws and regulations administered and enforced by federal agencies and other organizations, including but not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulation Authority, and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Company has established procedures and policies to facilitate compliance with laws and regulations, to foster prudent business operations, and to support financial reporting.  The Company routinely reviews its practices to validate compliance with laws and regulations and with internal procedures and policies.  As a result of these reviews, from time to time the Company may decide to modify some of its procedures and policies.  Such modifications, and the reviews that led to them, may be accompanied by payments being made and costs being incurred.  The ultimate changes and eventual effects of these actions on the Company’s business, if any, are uncertain.
The Company is currently being examined by certain states for compliance with unclaimed property laws.  It is possible that this examination may result in additional payments of abandoned funds to states and to changes in the Company’s practices and procedures for the identification of escheatable funds, which could impact benefit payments and reserves, among other consequences; however, it is not likely to have a material effect on the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company.


















34



8.  Other Comprehensive Income
The components of other comprehensive (loss) income on a pre-tax and after-tax basis are as follows:
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Pre-
tax
 
Tax
 
After-
tax
 
Pre-
tax
 
Tax
 
After-
tax
Unrealized net holding gains and losses arising during the period, net of related offsets
$
(286
)
 
$
224

 
$
(62
)
 
$
58

 
$
(20
)
 
$
38

Less: reclassification adjustment of realized capital gains and losses
178

 
62

 
240

 
21

 
(7
)
 
14

Unrealized net capital gains and losses
(464
)
 
162

 
(302
)
 
37

 
(13
)
 
24

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments
5

 
(2
)
 
3

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income
$
(459
)
 
$
160

 
$
(299
)
 
$
37

 
$
(13
)
 
$
24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Pre-
tax
 
Tax
 
After-
tax
 
Pre-
tax
 
Tax
 
After-
tax
Unrealized net holding gains and losses arising during the period, net of related offsets
$
(726
)
 
$
496

 
$
(230
)
 
$
525

 
$
(185
)
 
$
340

Less: reclassification adjustment of realized capital gains and losses
346

 
121

 
467

 
(7
)
 
2

 
(5
)
Unrealized net capital gains and losses
(1,072
)
 
375

 
(697
)
 
532

 
(187
)
 
345

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments
(6
)
 
2

 
(4
)
 
2

 
(1
)
 
1

Other comprehensive (loss) income
$
(1,078
)
 
$
377

 
$
(701
)
 
$
534

 
$
(188
)
 
$
346

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


35



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of
Allstate Life Insurance Company
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
 
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial position of Allstate Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”), an affiliate of The Allstate Corporation, as of September 30, 2015, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and of shareholder’s equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.  These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
 
We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
 
Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated statement of financial position of Allstate Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholder’s equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 5, 2015, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2014 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated statement of financial position from which it has been derived.
 
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
November 5, 2015

36



Item 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE-MONTH AND NINE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 AND 2014
 
OVERVIEW
 
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of Allstate Life Insurance Company (referred to in this document as “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company” or “ALIC”).  It should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto found under Part I. Item 1. contained herein, and with the discussion, analysis, consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Part I. Item 1. and Part II. Item 7. and Item 8. of the Allstate Life Insurance Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2014.  We operate as a single segment entity based on the manner in which we use financial information to evaluate business performance and to determine the allocation of resources.
HIGHLIGHTS 
Net income was $239 million and $542 million in the third quarter of 2015 and first nine months of 2015, respectively, compared to $84 million and $343 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, respectively.
Premiums and contract charges on underwritten products, including traditional life, interest-sensitive life and accident and health insurance, totaled $326 million in the third quarter of 2015, a decrease of 1.2% from $330 million in the third quarter of 2014, and $995 million in the first nine months of 2015, a decrease of 7.4% from $1.07 billion in the first nine months of 2014.
Investments totaled $35.45 billion as of September 30, 2015, reflecting a decrease of $2.02 billion from $37.47 billion as of December 31, 2014.  Net investment income increased 2.6% to $473 million in the third quarter of 2015 and decreased 12.1% to $1.42 billion in the first nine months of 2015 from $461 million and $1.61 billion in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, respectively.
Net realized capital gains totaled $189 million and $359 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015, respectively, compared to $28 million and $18 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, respectively.
During third quarter 2015, a $5 million pre-tax charge to income was recorded related to our annual comprehensive review of the deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), deferred sales inducement costs and secondary guarantee liability balances. This compares to a $5 million pre-tax charge to income in the third quarter of 2014.
Contractholder funds totaled $20.82 billion as of September 30, 2015, reflecting a decrease of $1.00 billion from $21.82 billion as of December 31, 2014.
On April 1, 2014, we sold Lincoln Benefit Life Company’s (“LBL”) life insurance business generated through independent master brokerage agencies, and all of LBL’s deferred fixed annuity and long-term care insurance business to Resolution Life Holdings, Inc.
On January 1, 2015, ALIC sold its subsidiary Allstate Assurance Company (“AAC”) to an unconsolidated affiliate. Allstate agencies and exclusive financial specialists began selling certain new life insurance business through AAC in 2015. By the end of 2015, the majority of new sales of traditional and interest-sensitive life insurance products will be issued through AAC. As a result, ALIC’s business in force is expected to decline.
Effective April 1, 2015, ALIC entered into a coinsurance reinsurance agreement with AAC to cede certain interest-sensitive life insurance policies with contractholder funds totaling $476 million to AAC. This business generated approximately $14 million of contract charges and $9 million of contract benefits per quarter in 2014.

37



OPERATIONS
Summary analysis   Summarized financial data is presented in the following table.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Premiums
$
150

 
$
142

 
$
448

 
$
441

Contract charges
180

 
192

 
557

 
652

Net investment income
473

 
461

 
1,417

 
1,612

Realized capital gains and losses
189

 
28

 
359

 
18

Total revenues
992

 
823

 
2,781

 
2,723

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Contract benefits
(353
)
 
(356
)
 
(1,057
)
 
(1,101
)
Interest credited to contractholder funds
(181
)
 
(191
)
 
(546
)
 
(696
)
Amortization of DAC
(38
)
 
(36
)
 
(116
)
 
(124
)
Operating costs and expenses
(56
)
 
(75
)
 
(211
)
 
(232
)
Restructuring and related charges

 
1

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Interest expense
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(12
)
 
(12
)
Total costs and expenses
(632
)
 
(661
)
 
(1,944
)
 
(2,167
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) on disposition of operations
2

 
(27
)
 
2

 
(71
)
Income tax expense
(123
)
 
(51
)
 
(297
)
 
(142
)
Net income
$
239

 
$
84

 
$
542

 
$
343

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments as of September 30
 
 
 
 
$
35,445

 
$
37,359

Net income was $239 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $84 million in the third quarter of 2014.  The increase was primarily due to higher net realized capital gains.
Net income was $542 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to $343 million in the first nine months of 2014. The increase primarily relates to higher net realized capital gains and lower loss on disposition related to the LBL sale, partially offset by the reduction in business due to the sale of LBL on April 1, 2014. Net income in the first nine months of 2014 included an after-tax loss on disposition of LBL totaling $38 million. Excluding the loss on disposition for the first nine months of 2014 as well as the net income of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $28 million, net income increased $189 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to higher net realized capital gains and lower interest credited to contractholder funds, partially offset by lower net investment income and higher contract benefits.
Analysis of revenues  Total revenues increased 20.5% or $169 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to higher net realized capital gains and net investment income. Total revenues increased 2.1% or $58 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $211 million, total revenues increased 10.7% or $269 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to higher net realized capital gains, partially offset by lower net investment income.
Premiums represent revenues generated from traditional life insurance, immediate annuities with life contingencies, and accident and health insurance products that have significant mortality or morbidity risk.
Contract charges are revenues generated from interest-sensitive and variable life insurance and fixed annuities for which deposits are classified as contractholder funds or separate account liabilities. Contract charges are assessed against the contractholder account values for maintenance, administration, cost of insurance and surrender prior to contractually specified dates.







38



The following table summarizes premiums and contract charges by product. 
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Underwritten products
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Traditional life insurance premiums
$
129

 
$
120

 
$
384

 
$
365

Accident and health insurance premiums
21

 
22

 
64

 
71

Interest-sensitive life insurance contract charges
176

 
188

 
547

 
638

Subtotal
326

 
330

 
995

 
1,074

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annuities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Immediate annuities with life contingencies premiums

 

 

 
5

Other fixed annuity contract charges
4

 
4

 
10

 
14

Subtotal
4

 
4

 
10

 
19

Premiums and contract charges (1)
$
330

 
$
334

 
$
1,005

 
$
1,093

____________
(1) 
Contract charges related to the cost of insurance totaled $122 million and $132 million for the third quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $380 million and $449 million in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Premiums and contract charges decreased 1.2% or $4 million and 8.1% or $88 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $85 million, premiums and contract charges decreased $3 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014. The decreases in both periods were primarily due to lower interest-sensitive life insurance contract charges, partially offset by increased traditional life insurance renewal premiums. The lower interest-sensitive life insurance contract charges in both periods primarily relates to the reinsurance agreement with AAC effective April 1, 2015.
Contractholder funds represent interest-bearing liabilities arising from the sale of products such as interest-sensitive life insurance, fixed annuities and funding agreements.  The balance of contractholder funds is equal to the cumulative deposits received and interest credited to the contractholder less cumulative contract benefits, surrenders, withdrawals, maturities and contract charges for mortality or administrative expenses.  The following table shows the changes in contractholder funds. 
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Contractholder funds, beginning balance
$
21,233

 
$
22,764

 
$
21,816

 
$
23,604

Contractholder funds classified as held for sale, beginning balance

 

 

 
10,945

Total contractholder funds, including those classified as held for sale
21,233

 
22,764

 
21,816

 
34,549

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest-sensitive life insurance
211

 
221

 
644

 
730

Fixed annuities
55

 
48

 
159

 
231

Total deposits
266

 
269

 
803

 
961

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest credited
180

 
191

 
545

 
697

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefits, withdrawals, maturities and other adjustments
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Benefits
(271
)
 
(282
)
 
(817
)
 
(938
)
Surrenders and partial withdrawals
(365
)
 
(625
)
 
(959
)
 
(1,881
)
Maturities of and interest payments on institutional products

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Contract charges
(167
)
 
(178
)
 
(514
)
 
(616
)
Net transfers from separate accounts
2

 
2

 
5

 
6

Other adjustments (1)
(62
)
 
(1
)
 
(62
)
 
24

Total benefits, withdrawals, maturities and other adjustments
(863
)
 
(1,085
)
 
(2,348
)
 
(3,406
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds sold in LBL disposition

 

 

 
(10,662
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds, ending balance
$
20,816

 
$
22,139

 
$
20,816

 
$
22,139

____________
(1) 
The table above illustrates the changes in contractholder funds, which are presented gross of reinsurance recoverables on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  The table above is intended to supplement our discussion and analysis of revenues, which are presented net of reinsurance on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. As a result, the net change in contractholder funds associated with products reinsured is reflected as a component of the other adjustments line.

39



Contractholder funds decreased 2.0% and 4.6% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015, respectively, primarily due to the continued runoff of our deferred fixed annuity business.
Contractholder deposits decreased 1.1% in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to lower deposits on interest-sensitive life insurance resulting from the absence of deposits on the business reinsured to AAC effective April 1, 2015. Contractholder deposits decreased 16.4% in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to lower deposits on interest-sensitive life insurance due to the LBL sale and lower additional deposits on fixed annuities.
Surrenders and partial withdrawals on deferred fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance products decreased 41.6% to $365 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 49.0% to $959 million in the first nine months of 2015 from $625 million and $1.88 billion in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, respectively. The annualized surrender and partial withdrawal rate on deferred fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance products, based on the beginning of year contractholder funds, was 7.4% in the first nine months of 2015 compared to 10.9% in the first nine months of 2014.
Analysis of costs and expenses Total costs and expenses decreased 4.4% or $29 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to lower operating costs and expenses and lower interest credited to contractholder funds. Total costs and expenses decreased 10.3% or $223 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $168 million, total costs and expenses decreased $55 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, primarily due to lower interest credited to contractholder funds, partially offset by higher contract benefits.
Contract benefits decreased 0.8% or $3 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 4.0% or $44 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $65 million, contract benefits increased $21 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, primarily due to higher life insurance mortality experience, partially offset by a decline related to the reinsurance agreement with AAC effective April 1, 2015.
Our annual review of assumptions in third quarter 2015 resulted in a $4 million increase in reserves primarily for secondary guarantees on interest-sensitive life insurance due to higher than anticipated retention on guaranteed interest-sensitive life business. In the third quarter of 2014, the review resulted in an $11 million increase in reserves primarily for secondary guarantees on interest-sensitive life insurance due to increased projected exposure to secondary guarantees.
We analyze our mortality and morbidity results using the difference between premiums and contract charges earned for the cost of insurance and contract benefits excluding the portion related to the implied interest on immediate annuities with life contingencies (“benefit spread”).  This implied interest totaled $127 million and $383 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015, respectively, compared to $131 million and $391 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, respectively.
The benefit spread by product group is disclosed in the following table. 
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Life insurance
$
62

 
$
70

 
$
189

 
$
225

Accident and health insurance
7

 
9

 
26

 
24

Annuities
(23
)
 
(30
)
 
(61
)
 
(69
)
Total benefit spread
$
46

 
$
49

 
$
154

 
$
180

Benefit spread decreased 6.1% or $3 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 14.4% or $26 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $(1) million, benefit spread decreased $27 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The decreases in both periods were primarily due to higher life insurance mortality experience, partially offset by higher life insurance premiums and favorable mortality experience on immediate annuities.
Interest credited to contractholder funds decreased 5.2% or $10 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 21.6% or $150 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $90 million, interest credited to contractholder funds decreased $60 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014. The decreases in both periods were primarily due to lower average contractholder funds and lower interest crediting rates. Valuation changes on derivatives embedded in equity-indexed annuity contracts that are not hedged increased interest credited to contractholder funds by $3 million in third quarter 2015 compared to a decrease of $2 million in third quarter 2014, and increased interest credited to contractholder funds by $4 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to an increase of $19 million in the first nine months of 2014.

40



In order to analyze the impact of net investment income and interest credited to contractholders on net income, we monitor the difference between net investment income and the sum of interest credited to contractholder funds and the implied interest on immediate annuities with life contingencies, which is included as a component of contract benefits on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (“investment spread”).
The investment spread by product group is shown in the following table.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Annuities and institutional products
$
85

 
$
54

 
$
229

 
$
260

Life insurance
33

 
24

 
104

 
82

Accident and health insurance
1

 
1

 
4

 
7

Net investment income on investments supporting capital
49

 
58

 
155

 
195

Investment spread before valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged
168

 
137

 
492

 
544

Valuation changes on derivatives embedded in equity-indexed annuity contracts that are not hedged
(3
)
 
2

 
(4
)
 
(19
)
Total investment spread
$
165

 
$
139

 
$
488

 
$
525

Investment spread before valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged increased 22.6% or $31 million in the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to higher net investment income and lower credited interest. Investment spread before valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged decreased 9.6% or $52 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $46 million, investment spread before valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged decreased $6 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to lower net investment income, partially offset by lower credited interest.
To further analyze investment spreads, the following table summarizes the weighted average investment yield on assets supporting product liabilities and capital, interest crediting rates and investment spreads. For purposes of these calculations, investments, reserves and contractholder funds classified as held for sale were included for periods prior to April 1, 2014. Investment spreads may vary significantly between periods due to the variability in investment income, particularly for immediate fixed annuities where the investment portfolio includes limited partnerships.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Weighted average
investment yield
 
Weighted average
interest crediting rate
 
Weighted average
investment spreads
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest-sensitive life insurance
5.3
%
 
5.3
%
 
3.9
%
 
4.0
%
 
1.4
%
 
1.3
%
Deferred fixed annuities and institutional products
4.2

 
4.5

 
2.8

 
2.8

 
1.4

 
1.7

Immediate fixed annuities with and without life contingencies
8.0

 
6.7

 
5.9

 
6.0

 
2.1

 
0.7

Investments supporting capital, traditional life and other products
3.7

 
4.5

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Weighted average
investment yield
 
Weighted average
interest crediting rate
 
Weighted average
investment spreads
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest-sensitive life insurance
5.3
%
 
5.4
%
 
3.9
%
 
3.9
%
 
1.4
%
 
1.5
%
Deferred fixed annuities and institutional products
4.3

 
4.5

 
2.8

 
2.9

 
1.5

 
1.6

Immediate fixed annuities with and without life contingencies
7.6

 
7.4

 
5.9

 
6.0

 
1.7

 
1.4

Investments supporting capital, traditional life and other products
4.1

 
4.6

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a





41



The following table summarizes our product liabilities and indicates the account value of those contracts and policies for which an investment spread is generated. 
($ in millions)
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Immediate fixed annuities with life contingencies
$
8,723

 
$
8,911

Other life contingent contracts and other
2,667

 
2,761

Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits
$
11,390

 
$
11,672

 
 
 
 
Interest-sensitive life insurance
$
7,243

 
$
7,154

Deferred fixed annuities
9,956

 
11,152

Immediate fixed annuities without life contingencies
3,279

 
3,490

Institutional products
85

 
85

Other
253

 
258

Contractholder funds
$
20,816

 
$
22,139

Amortization of DAC The components of amortization of DAC are summarized in the following table.
 
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Amortization of DAC before amortization relating to realized capital gains and losses, valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged and changes in assumptions
$
36

 
$
41

 
$
110

 
$
128

Amortization relating to realized capital gains and losses (1)  and valuation changes on embedded derivatives that are not hedged
2

 
2

 
6

 
3

Amortization deceleration for changes in assumptions (“DAC unlocking”)

 
(7
)
 

 
(7
)
Total amortization of DAC
$
38

 
$
36

 
$
116

 
$
124

_____________
 
(1) 
The impact of realized capital gains and losses on amortization of DAC is dependent upon the relationship between the assets that give rise to the gain or loss and the product liability supported by the assets.  Fluctuations result from changes in the impact of realized capital gains and losses on actual and expected gross profits.
Amortization of DAC increased 5.6% or $2 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, primarily related to amortization deceleration for changes in assumptions in 2014. Amortization of DAC in the first nine months of 2015 decreased 6.5% or $8 million compared to the same period of 2014.  Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $5 million, amortization of DAC in the first nine months of 2015 decreased $3 million compared to the same period of 2014, primarily due to lower amortization on interest-sensitive insurance resulting from decreased gross profits, partially offset by amortization deceleration for changes in assumptions in 2014.
Our annual comprehensive review of assumptions underlying estimated future gross profits for our interest-sensitive life and fixed annuity contracts covers assumptions for persistency, mortality, expenses, investment returns, including capital gains and losses, interest crediting rates to policyholders, and the effect of any hedges in all product lines. In the third quarter of 2015, the review resulted in no net acceleration of DAC amortization.
In the third quarter of 2014, the review resulted in a deceleration of DAC amortization (credit to income) of $7 million. Amortization deceleration of $9 million related to interest-sensitive life insurance and was primarily due to a decrease in projected expenses, partially offset by increased projected mortality. Amortization acceleration of $2 million related to fixed annuities and was primarily due to a decrease in projected gross profits.
The following table provides the effect on DAC amortization of changes in assumptions relating to the gross profit components of investment margin, benefit margin and expense margin for the nine months ended September 30.
($ in millions)
2015
 
2014
Investment margin
$
1

 
$
5

Benefit margin
1

 
29

Expense margin
(2
)
 
(41
)
Net deceleration
$

 
$
(7
)




42



Operating costs and expenses decreased 25.3% or $19 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 9.1% or $21 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014. Excluding results of the LBL business for first quarter 2014 of $8 million, operating costs and expenses decreased $13 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.
The following table summarizes operating costs and expenses.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Non-deferrable commissions
$
3

 
$
4

 
$
10

 
$
15

General and administrative expenses
45

 
63

 
177

 
190

Taxes and licenses
8

 
8

 
24

 
27

Total operating costs and expenses
$
56

 
$
75

 
$
211

 
$
232

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring and related charges
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$
2

 
$
2

General and administrative expenses decreased 28.6% or $18 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 6.8% or $13 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014, primarily due to lower employee related and other operating costs as a result of the decline in new and inforce business.
Income tax expense included $17 million related to our adoption of new accounting guidance for investments in qualified affordable housing projects in first quarter 2015.
INVESTMENTS
The composition of the investment portfolio as of September 30, 2015 is presented in the following table.
($ in millions)
 
 
Percent
 to total
Fixed income securities (1)
$
25,173

 
71.0
%
Mortgage loans
3,827

 
10.8

Equity securities (2)
1,370

 
3.9

Limited partnership interests (3)
2,261

 
6.4

Short-term investments (4)
937

 
2.6

Policy loans
575

 
1.6

Other
1,302

 
3.7

Total
$
35,445

 
100.0
%
__________
(1) 
Fixed income securities are carried at fair value.  Amortized cost basis for these securities was $23.98 billion.
(2) 
Equity securities are carried at fair value.  Cost basis for these securities was $1.42 billion.
(3) 
We have commitments to invest in additional limited partnership interests totaling $1.25 billion.
(4) 
Short-term investments are carried at fair value.  Amortized cost basis for these investments was $937 million.
Investments totaled $35.45 billion as of September 30, 2015, decreasing from $37.47 billion as of December 31, 2014 primarily due to a decline in fixed income valuations resulting from widening credit spreads and net reductions in contractholder funds.
Fixed income securities by type are listed in the following table. 
($ in millions) 
Fair value as of September 30, 2015
 
Percent to
total
investments
 
Fair value as of December 31, 2014
 
Percent to
total
investments
U.S. government and agencies
$
576

 
1.6
%
 
$
770

 
2.1
%
Municipal
2,526

 
7.1

 
3,662

 
9.8

Corporate
18,903

 
53.3

 
20,985

 
56.0

Foreign government
430

 
1.2

 
735

 
2.0

Asset-backed securities (“ABS”)
1,721

 
4.9

 
765

 
2.0

Residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”)
489

 
1.4

 
605

 
1.6

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)
512

 
1.4

 
579

 
1.5

Redeemable preferred stock
16

 
0.1

 
16

 

Total fixed income securities
$
25,173

 
71.0
%
 
$
28,117

 
75.0
%
As of September 30, 2015, 86.6% of the fixed income securities portfolio was rated investment grade, which is defined as a security having a rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa from Moody’s, a rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Fitch, Dominion, Kroll or Realpoint, a rating of aaa, aa, a or bbb from A.M. Best, or a comparable internal rating if an externally

43



provided rating is not available.  Fixed income securities are rated by third party credit rating agencies, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and/or are internally rated.  Our initial investment decisions and ongoing monitoring procedures for fixed income securities are based on a thorough due diligence process which includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of the credit quality, sector, structure, and liquidity risks of each issue.
The following table summarizes the fair value and unrealized net capital gains and losses for fixed income securities by credit rating as of September 30, 2015
($ in millions)
Investment grade
 
Below investment grade
 
Total
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
gain/(loss)
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
gain/(loss)
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
gain/(loss)
U.S. government and agencies
$
576

 
$
68

 
$

 
$

 
$
576

 
$
68

Municipal
2,472

 
306

 
54

 
8

 
2,526

 
314

Corporate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Public
10,873

 
507

 
1,908

 
(95
)
 
12,781

 
412

Privately placed
5,347

 
324

 
775

 
(31
)
 
6,122

 
293

Foreign government
430

 
43

 

 

 
430

 
43

ABS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”)
211

 
(7
)
 
60

 
(13
)
 
271

 
(20
)
Consumer and other asset-backed securities (“Consumer and other ABS”)
1,445

 
4

 
5

 

 
1,450

 
4

RMBS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

U.S. government sponsored entities (“U.S. Agency”)
102

 
7

 

 

 
102

 
7

Non-agency
53

 
(1
)
 
334

 
44

 
387

 
43

CMBS
274

 
8

 
238

 
23

 
512

 
31

Redeemable preferred stock
16

 
3

 

 

 
16

 
3

Total fixed income securities
$
21,799

 
$
1,262

 
$
3,374

 
$
(64
)
 
$
25,173

 
$
1,198

Municipal bonds totaled $2.53 billion as of September 30, 2015 with an unrealized net capital gain of $314 million.  The municipal bond portfolio includes general obligations of state and local issuers and revenue bonds (including pre-refunded bonds, which are bonds for which an irrevocable trust has been established to fund the remaining payments of principal and interest).
Corporate bonds, including publicly traded and privately placed, totaled $18.90 billion as of September 30, 2015, with an unrealized net capital gain of $705 million.  Privately placed securities primarily consist of corporate issued senior debt securities that are directly negotiated with the borrower or are in unregistered form.
ABS, RMBS and CMBS are structured securities that are primarily collateralized by consumer or corporate borrowings and residential and commercial real estate loans.  The cash flows from the underlying collateral paid to the securitization trust are generally applied in a pre-determined order and are designed so that each security issued by the trust, typically referred to as a “class”, qualifies for a specific original rating.  For example, the “senior” portion or “top” of the capital structure, or rating class, which would originally qualify for a rating of Aaa typically has priority in receiving principal repayments on the underlying collateral and retains this priority until the class is paid in full.  In a sequential structure, underlying collateral principal repayments are directed to the most senior rated Aaa class in the structure until paid in full, after which principal repayments are directed to the next most senior Aaa class in the structure until it is paid in full.  Senior Aaa classes generally share any losses from the underlying collateral on a pro-rata basis after losses are absorbed by classes with lower original ratings.  The payment priority and class subordination included in these securities serves as credit enhancement for holders of the senior or top portions of the structures.  These securities continue to retain the payment priority features that existed at the origination of the securitization trust.  Other forms of credit enhancement may include structural features embedded in the securitization trust, such as overcollateralization, excess spread and bond insurance.  The underlying collateral can have fixed interest rates, variable interest rates (such as adjustable rate mortgages) or may contain features of both fixed and variable rate mortgages.
ABS, including CDO and Consumer and other ABS, totaled $1.72 billion as of September 30, 2015, with 96.2% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital loss of $16 million.  Credit risk is managed by monitoring the performance of the underlying collateral.  Many of the securities in the ABS portfolio have credit enhancement with features such as overcollateralization, subordinated structures, reserve funds, guarantees and/or insurance.
CDO totaled $271 million as of September 30, 2015, with 77.9% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital loss of $20 million.  CDO consist of obligations collateralized by cash flow CDO, which are structures collateralized primarily by below investment grade senior secured corporate loans.
Consumer and other ABS totaled $1.45 billion as of September 30, 2015, with 99.7% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $4 million.

44



RMBS totaled $489 million as of September 30, 2015, with 31.7% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $50 million.  The RMBS portfolio is subject to interest rate risk, but unlike other fixed income securities, is additionally subject to prepayment risk from the underlying residential mortgage loans.  RMBS consists of a U.S. Agency portfolio having collateral issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and a non-agency portfolio consisting of securities collateralized by Prime, Alt-A and Subprime loans.  The non-agency portfolio totaled $387 million as of September 30, 2015, with 13.7% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $43 million.
CMBS totaled $512 million as of September 30, 2015, with 53.5% rated investment grade and an unrealized net capital gain of $31 million.  The CMBS portfolio is subject to credit risk and has a sequential paydown structure.  All of the CMBS investments are traditional conduit transactions collateralized by commercial mortgage loans, broadly diversified across property types and geographical area. 
Mortgage loans totaled $3.83 billion as of September 30, 2015 and primarily comprise loans secured by first mortgages on developed commercial real estate.  Key considerations used to manage our exposure include property type and geographic diversification.  For further detail on our mortgage loan portfolio, see Note 3 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Performance-based long-term is an investing strategy whose objective is to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns over a longer horizon. The portfolio primarily includes private equity, real estate, infrastructure, timber and agriculture-related investments. We believe these assets offer attractive returns relative to risk due to, among other factors, the largely illiquid nature of the underlying investments, specialized skills required to underwrite and acquire them, and the ability to add value through operational improvements. Accordingly, a greater proportion of return is derived from the specific asset or business rather than the market as a whole. The portfolio is diversified across many investments, as well as, across a number of characteristics including fund managers or partners, vintage years, strategies, geography (including international), and industry sector or property types. These investments are reflected in $2.11 billion of limited partnership interests and $125 million of other investments.
The following table presents information about our limited partnership interests as of September 30, 2015.
($ in millions)
Private equity/debt funds (1)
 
Real estate funds
 
Other
funds
 
Total
Cost method of accounting (“Cost”)
$
452

 
$
74

 
$

 
$
526

Equity method of accounting (“EMA”)
1,251

 
333

 
151

 
1,735

Total
$
1,703

 
$
407

 
$
151

 
$
2,261

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of managers
100

 
22

 
3

 
125

Number of individual funds
180

 
44

 
3

 
227

Largest exposure to single fund
$
103

 
$
45

 
$
62

 
$
103

____________
 
(1) 
Includes $471 million of infrastructure and real asset funds.
The following tables show the earnings from our limited partnership interests by fund type and accounting classification.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Cost
 
EMA
 
Total
income
 
Impairment
write-downs
 
Cost
 
EMA
 
Total
income
 
Impairment
write-downs
Private equity/debt funds
$
29

 
$
69

 
$
98

 
$

 
$
8

 
$
27

 
$
35

 
$
(5
)
Real estate funds
3

 
4

 
7

 

 
5

 
10

 
15

 
8

Other funds

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
1

 

Total
$
32

 
$
73

 
$
105

 
$

 
$
13

 
$
38

 
$
51

 
$
3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Cost
 
EMA
 
Total
income
 
Impairment
write-downs
 
Cost
 
EMA
 
Total
income
 
Impairment
write-downs
Private equity/debt funds
$
71

 
$
128

 
$
199

 
$
(2
)
 
$
55

 
$
111

 
$
166

 
$
(11
)
Real estate funds
17

 
36

 
53

 

 
16

 
24

 
40

 
5

Other funds

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 

 

 
3

 
3

 

Total
$
88

 
$
162

 
$
250

 
$
(2
)
 
$
71

 
$
138

 
$
209

 
$
(6
)
Limited partnership interests produced investment income of $105 million and $250 million in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $51 million and $209 million in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Investment income from private equity/debt funds increased for the three and nine month

45



periods of 2015 reflecting strong distributions from our cost method limited partnerships as acquirer access to financing and an active global merger and acquisition market facilitated the sales of underlying investments. We also experienced appreciation across the diversified private equity/debt funds EMA portfolio, reduced by funds with exposure to the energy sector. Realized capital gains and losses included impairment write-downs and other losses from valuation changes in public securities held in certain limited partnerships. Economic conditions and equity market performance are reflected in limited partnership results, and we continue to expect this income to vary significantly between periods. Investment income on EMA limited partnerships is generally recognized on a three month delay due to the availability of the related financial statements.  Investment income on cost method limited partnerships is recognized only upon receipt of amounts distributed by the partnerships.
Unrealized net capital gains totaled $1.15 billion as of September 30, 2015 compared to $2.34 billion as of December 31, 2014.  The decrease for fixed income securities was primarily due to wider credit spreads and the realization of unrealized net capital gains through sales. The following table presents unrealized net capital gains and losses.
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
U.S. government and agencies
$
68

 
$
102

Municipal
314

 
506

Corporate
705

 
1,520

Foreign government
43

 
81

ABS
(16
)
 
(8
)
RMBS
50

 
51

CMBS
31

 
41

Redeemable preferred stock
3

 
2

Fixed income securities
1,198

 
2,295

Equity securities
(53
)
 
43

Derivatives
11

 
2

EMA limited partnerships
(2
)
 
(2
)
Unrealized net capital gains and losses, pre-tax
$
1,154

 
$
2,338

The unrealized net capital gain for the fixed income portfolio totaled $1.20 billion, comprised of $1.58 billion of gross unrealized gains and $382 million of gross unrealized losses as of September 30, 2015.  This is compared to an unrealized net capital gain for the fixed income portfolio totaling $2.30 billion, comprised of $2.49 billion of gross unrealized gains and $191 million of gross unrealized losses as of December 31, 2014.
Gross unrealized gains and losses on fixed income securities by type and sector as of September 30, 2015 are provided in the following table. 
($ in millions)
Amortized
cost
 
Gross unrealized
 
Fair
value
 
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Corporate:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Energy
$
2,083

 
$
77

 
$
(102
)
 
$
2,058

Basic industry
1,104

 
35

 
(57
)
 
1,082

Banking
1,013

 
30

 
(32
)
 
1,011

Communications
1,404

 
58

 
(31
)
 
1,431

Consumer goods (cyclical and non-cyclical)
4,092

 
184

 
(30
)
 
4,246

Utilities
3,183

 
354

 
(25
)
 
3,512

Capital goods
1,850

 
107

 
(23
)
 
1,934

Technology
1,136

 
31

 
(17
)
 
1,150

Transportation
960

 
72

 
(14
)
 
1,018

Financial services
961

 
63

 
(6
)
 
1,018

Other
412

 
34

 
(3
)
 
443

Total corporate fixed income portfolio
18,198

 
1,045

 
(340
)
 
18,903

U.S. government and agencies
508

 
68

 

 
576

Municipal
2,212

 
323

 
(9
)
 
2,526

Foreign government
387

 
44

 
(1
)
 
430

ABS
1,737

 
9

 
(25
)
 
1,721

RMBS
439

 
54

 
(4
)
 
489

CMBS
481

 
34

 
(3
)
 
512

Redeemable preferred stock
13

 
3

 

 
16

Total fixed income securities
$
23,975

 
$
1,580

 
$
(382
)
 
$
25,173


46



The energy, basic industry, banking, communications and consumer goods sectors had the highest concentration of gross unrealized losses in our corporate fixed income securities portfolio as of September 30, 2015.  In general, the gross unrealized losses are related to increasing risk-free interest rates or widening credit spreads since the time of initial purchase.
The unrealized net capital loss for the equity portfolio totaled $53 million, comprised of $21 million of gross unrealized gains and $74 million of gross unrealized losses as of September 30, 2015.  This is compared to an unrealized net capital gain for the equity portfolio totaling $43 million, comprised of $57 million of gross unrealized gains and $14 million of gross unrealized losses as of December 31, 2014.
Global oil prices have declined significantly since September 30, 2014 and commodity values have also declined significantly in 2015. Among commodities exposed companies, those in the metal and mining sectors have experienced the largest decline in values of their debt. In the above table, oil exposure is reflected within the energy sector and metals and mining exposure is reflected within the basic industry sector. Within these sectors, we continue to monitor the impact to our investment portfolio for those companies that may be adversely affected, both directly and indirectly. If oil and commodity prices remain at depressed levels for an extended period or decline further, certain issuers and investments may come under duress.
Corporate fixed income and equity securities with gross unrealized losses that have direct exposure to the energy sector, have an aggregate carrying value of $980 million and gross unrealized losses of $115 million as of September 30, 2015. Approximately 80% of the $2.06 billion of corporate fixed income securities with direct exposure to the energy sector were investment grade as of September 30, 2015.
Corporate fixed income and equity securities with gross unrealized losses that have direct exposure to the metals and mining sectors, have an aggregate carrying value of $373 million and gross unrealized losses of $45 million as of September 30, 2015.  Approximately 80% of the $362 million of corporate fixed income securities with direct exposure to the metals and mining sectors were investment grade as of September 30, 2015.
Net investment income  The following table presents net investment income.
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Fixed income securities
$
300

 
$
349

 
$
960

 
$
1,179

Mortgage loans
46

 
48

 
147

 
188

Equity securities
6

 
7

 
19

 
17

Limited partnership interests
105

 
51

 
250

 
209

Short-term investments
1

 

 
2

 
1

Policy loans
9

 
10

 
26

 
30

Other
19

 
15

 
55

 
43

Investment income, before expense
486

 
480

 
1,459

 
1,667

Investment expense
(13
)
 
(19
)
 
(42
)
 
(55
)
Net investment income
$
473

 
$
461

 
$
1,417

 
$
1,612

Net investment income increased 2.6% or $12 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to higher limited partnership income, partially offset by lower portfolio yields and average investment balances. Net investment income decreased 12.1% or $195 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014. Excluding $126 million related to the LBL business for first quarter 2014, net investment income decreased $69 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, primarily due to lower average investment balances, prepayment fee income and litigation proceeds, and portfolio yields, partially offset by higher limited partnership income. We are reducing the risk that rising interest rates will negatively impact the value of fixed income securities by reducing the portfolio’s duration. The proceeds from these sales are initially being invested in shorter duration fixed income securities and public equity securities. Over time, we will shift to investments in which a greater proportion of return is derived from idiosyncratic asset or operating performance, to more appropriately match the long-term nature of our immediate annuity liabilities and improve long-term economic results. While the dispositions generate net realized capital gains, investment income will be impacted by lower yields on the reinvested proceeds until repositioned to performance-based investments.






47



Realized capital gains and losses  The following table presents the components of realized capital gains and losses and the related tax effect. 
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Impairment write-downs
$
(17
)
 
$
2

 
$
(29
)
 
$
(2
)
Change in intent write-downs
(50
)
 
(21
)
 
(57
)
 
(40
)
Net other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings
(67
)
 
(19
)
 
(86
)
 
(42
)
Sales and other
241

 
43

 
427

 
51

Valuation and settlements of derivative instruments
15

 
4

 
18

 
9

Realized capital gains and losses, pre-tax
189

 
28

 
359

 
18

Income tax expense
(67
)
 
(9
)
 
(127
)
 
(6
)
Realized capital gains and losses, after-tax
$
122

 
$
19

 
$
232

 
$
12

Impairment write-downs, which include changes in the mortgage loan valuation allowance, are presented in the following table. 
($ in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Fixed income securities
$
(7
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(2
)
Mortgage loans

 
2

 

 
6

Equity securities
(7
)
 

 
(10
)
 

Limited partnership interests

 
3

 
(2
)
 
(6
)
Other investments
(3
)
 

 
(4
)
 

Impairment write-downs
$
(17
)
 
$
2

 
$
(29
)
 
$
(2
)
Impairment write-downs on fixed income securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily driven by corporate fixed income securities impacted by issuer specific circumstances and collateralized loan obligations that experienced deterioration in expected cash flows. Equity securities were written down primarily due to the length of time and extent to which fair value was below cost, considering our assessment of the financial condition and near-term and long-term prospects of the issuer, including relevant industry conditions and trends. Limited partnership write-downs primarily related to cost method limited partnerships that experienced declines in portfolio valuations deemed to be other-than-temporary.
Change in intent write-downs totaling $50 million and $57 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, were primarily related to the ongoing portfolio management of our equity securities. For certain equity securities managed by third parties where we do not retain decision making authority as it pertains to selling securities that are in an unrealized loss position and therefore we recognize any unrealized loss at the end of the period through a charge to earnings.
Sales and other generated $241 million and $427 million of net realized capital gains in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Sales and other primarily included sales of fixed income securities with longer maturity dates to reduce the risk of rising interest rates and equity securities in connection with ongoing portfolio management, as well as losses from valuation changes in public securities held in certain limited partnerships. Sales in third quarter 2015 primarily related to the repositioning of $1.96 billion of longer term fixed income securities into shorter duration fixed income securities and public equity securities.
Valuation and settlements of derivative instruments generated net realized capital gains of $15 million and $18 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and primarily comprised gains on equity index futures used to offset valuation losses in the equity portfolio during periods of declining equity market values.

48



CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
Capital resources consist of shareholder’s equity and notes due to related parties, representing funds deployed or available to be deployed to support business operations.  The following table summarizes our capital resources.
($ in millions)
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Common stock, retained income and additional capital paid-in
$
5,393

 
$
4,968

Accumulated other comprehensive income
678

 
1,379

Total shareholder’s equity
6,071

 
6,347

Notes due to related parties
275

 
275

Total capital resources
$
6,346

 
$
6,622

Shareholder’s equity decreased in the first nine months of 2015, primarily due to decreased unrealized net capital gains on investments and dividends paid to AIC, partially offset by net income.
Financial ratings and strength  Our ratings are influenced by many factors including our operating and financial performance, asset quality, liquidity, asset/liability management, overall portfolio mix, financial leverage (i.e., debt), exposure to risks, the current level of operating leverage and AIC’s ratings.  In February 2015, A.M. Best affirmed our insurance financial strength rating of A+ and the outlook for the rating remained stable. In June 2015, Moody’s affirmed our insurance financial strength rating of A1 and the outlook for the rating remained stable. In July 2015, S&P affirmed our insurance financial strength ratings of A+ and the outlook for the rating remained stable.
The Company, AIC and the Corporation are party to an Amended and Restated Intercompany Liquidity Agreement (“Liquidity Agreement”) which allows for short-term advances of funds to be made between parties for liquidity and other general corporate purposes.  The Liquidity Agreement does not establish a commitment to advance funds on the part of any party.  The Company and AIC each serve as a lender and borrower and the Corporation serves only as a lender.  The Company also has a capital support agreement with AIC.  Under the capital support agreement, AIC is committed to provide capital to the Company to maintain an adequate capital level.  The maximum amount of potential funding under each of these agreements is $1.00 billion. 
In addition to the Liquidity Agreement, the Company also has an intercompany loan agreement with the Corporation.  The amount of intercompany loans available to the Company is at the discretion of the Corporation.  The maximum amount of loans the Corporation will have outstanding to all its eligible subsidiaries at any given point in time is limited to $1.00 billion.  The Corporation may use commercial paper borrowings, bank lines of credit and securities lending to fund intercompany borrowings.
Liquidity sources and uses  We actively manage our financial position and liquidity levels in light of changing market, economic, and business conditions.  Liquidity is managed at both the entity and enterprise level across the Company, and is assessed on both base and stressed level liquidity needs.  We believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet these needs.  Additionally, we have existing intercompany agreements in place that facilitate liquidity management across the Company to enhance flexibility.
Allstate parent company capital capacity  The Corporation has at the parent holding company level deployable assets totaling $3.06 billion as of September 30, 2015 comprising cash and investments that are generally saleable within one quarter.  This provides funds for the parent company’s fixed charges and other corporate purposes.
The Company has access to additional borrowing to support liquidity through the Corporation as follows.  The amount available to the Company is at the discretion of the Corporation. 
A commercial paper facility with a borrowing limit of $1.00 billion to cover short-term cash needs.  As of September 30, 2015, there were no balances outstanding and therefore the remaining borrowing capacity was $1.00 billion; however, the outstanding balance can fluctuate daily.
A $1.00 billion unsecured revolving credit facility is available for short-term liquidity requirements.  In April 2015, the Corporation extended the maturity date of this facility to April 2020.  The facility is fully subscribed among 11 lenders with the largest commitment being $115 million.  The commitments of the lenders are several and no lender is responsible for any other lender’s commitment if such lender fails to make a loan under the facility. This facility contains an increase provision that would allow up to an additional $500 million of borrowing.  This facility has a financial covenant requiring that the Corporation not exceed a 37.5% debt to capitalization ratio as defined in the agreement.  This ratio was 12.0% as of September 30, 2015.  Although the right to borrow under the facility is not subject to a minimum rating requirement, the costs of maintaining the facility and borrowing under it are based on the ratings of the Corporation’s senior unsecured, unguaranteed long-term debt.  There were no borrowings under the credit facility during the third quarter or the first nine months of 2015.
A universal shelf registration statement that was filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2015.  The Corporation can use this shelf registration to issue an unspecified amount of debt securities, common stock (including 510 million shares of treasury stock as of September 30, 2015), preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units and securities of trust subsidiaries.  The specific terms of any securities the Corporation issues under this registration statement will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplements.

49



Liquidity exposure  Contractholder funds were $20.82 billion as of September 30, 2015.  The following table summarizes contractholder funds by their contractual withdrawal provisions as of September 30, 2015
($ in millions) 
 
 
Percent
to total
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal
$
3,432

 
16.5
%
Subject to discretionary withdrawal with adjustments:
 
 
 
Specified surrender charges (1)
5,630

 
27.0

Market value adjustments (2)
1,994

 
9.6

Subject to discretionary withdrawal without adjustments (3)
9,760

 
46.9

Total contractholder funds (4)
$
20,816

 
100.0
%
 
____________
(1) 
Includes $1.99 billion of liabilities with a contractual surrender charge of less than 5% of the account balance.
(2) 
$1.36 billion of the contracts with market value adjusted surrenders have a 30-45 day period at the end of their initial and subsequent interest rate guarantee periods (which are typically 5, 7 or 10 years) during which there is no surrender charge or market value adjustment.
(3) 
87% of these contracts have a minimum interest crediting rate guarantee of 3% or higher.
(4) 
Includes $810 million of contractholder funds on variable annuities reinsured to The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc., in 2006.
Retail life and annuity products may be surrendered by customers for a variety of reasons.  Reasons unique to individual customers include a current or unexpected need for cash or a change in life insurance coverage needs.  Other key factors that may impact the likelihood of customer surrender include the level of the contract surrender charge, the length of time the contract has been in force, distribution channel, market interest rates, equity market conditions and potential tax implications.  In addition, the propensity for retail life insurance policies to lapse is lower than it is for fixed annuities because of the need for the insured to be re-underwritten upon policy replacement.  The annualized surrender and partial withdrawal rate on deferred fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance products, based on the beginning of year contractholder funds, was 7.4% and 10.9% in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively.  We strive to promptly pay customers who request cash surrenders; however, statutory regulations generally provide up to six months in most states to fulfill surrender requests. 
Our asset-liability management practices enable us to manage the differences between the cash flows generated by our investment portfolio and the expected cash flow requirements of our life insurance and annuity product obligations.
Cash flows  As reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, lower cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 was primarily due to lower net investment income and higher income tax payments, partially offset by higher premiums on traditional life insurance products.
Lower cash provided by investing activities in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 was primarily the result of lower cash used in financing activities due to lower contractholder fund disbursements. Investing activities included the repositioning of $1.96 billion of longer term fixed income securities into shorter duration fixed income securities and public equity securities.
Lower cash used in financing activities in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 was primarily due to lower contractholder benefits and withdrawals on fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance, partially offset by lower deposits.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains “forward-looking statements” that anticipate results based on our estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may be identified by their use of words like “plans,” “seeks,” “expects,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “believes,” “likely,” “targets” and other words with similar meanings. We believe these statements are based on reasonable estimates, assumptions and plans. However, if the estimates, assumptions or plans underlying the forward-looking statements prove inaccurate or if other risks or uncertainties arise, actual results could differ materially from those communicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements include risks related to: (1) changes in underwriting and actual experience; (2) reestimates of reserves for claims; (3) the influence of changes in market interest rates on spread-based products; (4) changes in estimates of profitability on interest-sensitive life products; (5) reducing our concentration in spread-based business and exiting certain distribution channels; (6) changes in tax laws; (7) our ability to mitigate the capital impact associated with statutory reserving requirements; (8) compliance and operational issues relating to dispositions and acquisitions of businesses; (9) market risk and declines in credit quality relating to our investment portfolio; (10) our subjective determination of the fair value of our fixed income and equity securities and the amount of realized capital losses recorded for impairments of our investments; (11) competition in the insurance industry; (12) conditions in the global

50



economy and capital markets; (13) losses from legal and regulatory actions; (14) restrictive regulation and regulatory reforms; (15) the availability of reinsurance at current levels and prices; (16) credit risk of our reinsurers; (17) a downgrade in our financial strength ratings; (18) the effect of adverse capital and credit market conditions; (19) failure in cyber or other information security systems; (20) the impact of a large scale pandemic, the threat of terrorism or military action; (21) changes in accounting standards; (22) the realization of deferred tax assets; (23) loss of key vendor relationships or failure of a vendor to protect confidential information; and (24) failure to protect intellectual property. Additional information concerning these and other factors may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon this evaluation, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed with or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act is made known to management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


51



PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings
 
Information required for Part II, Item 1 is incorporated by reference to the discussion under the heading “Regulation and Compliance” in Note 7 of the condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Item 6.  Exhibits
 
(a)            Exhibits
 
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Form 10-Q.
 
Incorporated by Reference
 
 
Exhibit
Number
 
 
                Exhibit Description                  
 
 
Form
 
File
Number
 
 
Exhibit
 
 
Filing Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
15
Acknowledgment of awareness from Deloitte & Touche LLP, dated November 5, 2015, concerning unaudited interim financial information
 
 
 
 
X
31(i)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
X
31(i)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
X
32
Section 1350 Certifications
 
 
 
 
X
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
 
X
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
 
 
 
 
X
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
 
 
 
 
X
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
 
 
 
 
X
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
 
 
 
 
X
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
 
 
 
 
X


52



SIGNATURE
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
Allstate Life Insurance Company
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
November 5, 2015
 
 
By
/s/ Samuel H. Pilch
 
 
Samuel H. Pilch
 
 
(chief accounting officer and duly
 
 
authorized officer of Registrant)

53